Free Consultation
Forensic and documentary evidence such as accident scene photos, medical records, and even preserved clothing and footwear that you were wearing at the time of your accident can all be key to establishing fault for a slip and fall injury. However, whether you are settling your case out of court or presenting it before a civil judge, your entire claim will likely depend on witness testimony.
With that in mind, it can be helpful to know a little bit about the role of witnesses in Philadelphia slip and fall cases before you start pursuing a claim yourself. Here is a brief overview of what witnesses may be asked to talk about during this sort of claim, what obstacles their testimony can sometimes present, and what a skilled attorney can do to help you get the most out of the people testifying for—or sometimes even against—you.
Understanding Different Types of Witnesses
It is important to understand that there is not just one role that a witness can play during a slip and fall lawsuit in Philadelphia. In fact, it is fairly common for claims like this to involve testimony from numerous people who are each testifying about a different element of the claim as a whole, such as:
- Eyewitnesses testifying about the actual events before, during, and after the plaintiff’s injury
- Expert witnesses testifying about the specific medical or psychological effects that a slip and fall injury will have or about specific technical reasons why the property condition was unreasonably unsafe
- Employee and owner witnesses testifying about whether they and/or the defendant knew about the hazard in advance and what was or was not done to address that hazard
- Character witnesses—usually friends and family members of a party involved in the case—testifying about the experiences of the injured person or the type of behavior the defendant typically demonstrates when caring for their property
Legal counsel can provide vital help in finding the right witnesses to testify about a particular accident and ensuring their testimony holds up in court.
Dealing With Problematic Witness Testimony
Civil courts and juries generally consider witness testimony reliable, but it is by no means perfectly accurate in every situation. Because of this, the role of personal injury lawyers when dealing with witnesses in Philadelphia slip and fall cases is often to interpret testimony from multiple parties and determine the veracity of each person’s statements.
Legal counsel can help determine whether two witnesses’ testimonies conflict or whether a particular witness is affected by bias or otherwise not credible or whether someone is misremembering what actually happened. If necessary, a dedicated attorney can even investigate whether a witness is being intimidated or coerced into providing inaccurate testimony or not testifying at all.
Learn More About the Role of Witnesses in Slip and Fall Cases From a Philadelphia Attorney
As important as the role of witnesses in Philadelphia slip and fall cases often is, you should not hinge the success or failure of your claim solely on witness testimony. The key is to construct the most comprehensive case possible when suing a landowner over a fall that happened on their property, especially if you need to recover years’ or decades’ worth of expected future losses stemming from your injuries.
Representation from a compassionate and capable slip and fall lawyer can make a significant difference in how effectively you can pursue the compensation you deserve. Call Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Attorneys, today to schedule a free consultation.
