The Role of an Eyewitness After an Accident Claim

In the chaotic moments after a traffic accident, it can be hard to distinguish up from down – let alone keep track of all the facts of the collision. That’s why many police reports and car accidents claims rely heavily upon eyewitness testimony from others at the scene. In the first six months of 2025, there were roughly 11,000 car accidents reported in Franklin County, making it perhaps more important than ever for local motorists to understand the valuable role accurate eyewitness testimony can play in building a comprehensive car accident claim.

For victims in Columbus and throughout Ohio, securing statements from reliable eyewitnesses can make or break a claim for compensation, but an experienced car accident lawyer can help victims leverage eyewitness statements into case wins. Here’s a brief overview of how eyewitness testimony factors into the car accident claim process and the role a local car accident attorney can play in helping accident victims build a more compelling case for justice.

Eyewitness testimony: Why it matters

While some car accidents occur without being observed by passers-by, the vast majority of collisions occur on public roadways where other vehicles, drivers and passengers are present. Unlike the people directly involved in a crash, third-party witnesses are often seen as neutral observers and can provide crucial context for a collision. Eyewitnesses often notice things that individuals involved in a crash could not, making the observations of third-party onlookers incredibly valuable when attempting to understand the facts of a case.

In car accident claims, eyewitness testimony can be used to:

• Corroborate an injured party’s account
• Dispute false claims made by any and all involved parties
• Fill in the gaps in firsthand accounts of the crash
• Provide additional details about the circumstances before, during and after a crash

When it comes to determining liability in a motor vehicle crash, it’s typical for all involved parties to deny responsibility. Eyewitness testimony can help clarify important facts about a crash and help insurance companies and law enforcement hone in on the person or persons responsible for the collision.

How credible is eyewitness testimony?

You may be familiar with the claim that eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable. While it’s true that eyewitness testimony is not infallible, corroborating testimony from a third party is admissible in court and can be an incredibly convincing form of evidence when presented to a judge or jury.

In Ohio, courts and insurance companies often take steps to ensure that any witness testimony presented as part of a claim is both accurate and reliable. Here are a few of the factors used to assess the credibility of eyewitnesses to car accidents:

1. Proximity to the accident: The closer the witness was to the crash, the more reliable their observation tends to be.
2. Viewpoint/visibility: Witnesses with clear, unobstructed views of an accident will likely be considered more reliable than witnesses who only had a limited view of a crash.
3. Objectivity: A witness with no relationship to the parties involved in the accident is more likely to be considered impartial, while witnesses who are connected to either involved party may be affected by their personal bias.
4. Consistency: If a witness remains consistent in their testimony throughout the duration, their account will more likely be treated as a reliable form of evidence.
5. Demeanor: Calm, confident and detail-oriented testimony is more compelling than vague or overly emotional recollections. Additionally, testimony from sober, cooperative witnesses will always carry more weight than testimony given while a witness is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Experienced accident lawyers in Columbus know how to vet witness testimony early on and can work directly with witnesses to prepare them for depositions or courtroom testimony as needed. By prioritizing witness testimony from reliable sources, injured victims and their legal teams can shore up their case and work collaboratively towards a more positive case outcome.

Gathering eyewitness statements

Time is of the essence when it comes to identifying and documenting witness statements. People’s memories fade quickly, and it is much harder to track down witnesses after the fact. After an accident, involved parties should move quickly to ask bystanders for their contact information (if they are physically able to do so). If you find yourself too severely injured to speak or to collect witnesses’ information at the scene, you can politely ask them to remain at the scene to give their statement to law enforcement when they arrive.

First responders will likely ask witnesses for their accounts of the crash and enter their statements into their official reports. However, it is still important to collect objective information from witnesses as soon as you are able to do so in order to prevent anyone’s story from changing over time.

You may also opt to record verbal descriptions of the accident from witnesses at the scene using a phone or other device. Ohio is a one-party consent state, which means you do not technically have to ask permission to record a witness’s statement. However, it is still advisable that you directly ask them for their consent prior to recording in order to maximize the likelihood that they will continue to cooperate as the case progresses.

How attorneys work with eyewitness testimony

Whether your case is being addressed via insurance negotiations or is likely headed for a personal injury trial, your personal injury attorney may be able to use eyewitness testimony as an integral piece of evidence when building your claim. An experienced car accident lawyer can use eyewitness testimony to:

• Establish liability: In Ohio, establishing fault is crucial for recovering damages in car accident claims. If a witness observed one party behaving negligently or recklessly, their testimony can help establish liability and lay the framework for a successful claim.
• Push back against insurance companies: It is not unusual for insurance companies to attempt to deny a claim by suggesting an injured party was to blame for their accident. If you find yourself facing this textbook tactic, eyewitness testimony can add credibility to your assertions about the other party’s liability.
• Build a narrative: Lawyers often use eyewitness accounts to tell a cohesive and persuasive story that aligns with physical evidence. Eyewitness accounts that support your pain and suffering in the immediate aftermath of a crash can support personal injury claims related to invisible disabilities or late-diagnosed conditions.

In some cases, a car accident attorney may have to call eyewitnesses to testify in court or to give depositions during discovery. When this happens, it is vital that your legal team understands the nuances of working with eyewitnesses and are willing to take a hands-on approach to preparing them to testify.

At Soroka & Associates, LLC, we pride ourselves on putting people first throughout the entirety of a car accident claim. From vetting witnesses to preparing them for court and everything in between, our experienced local team is firmly committed to helping clients fight for compensation without compromising their humanity.

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio, don’t wait to secure the evidence you need. Eyewitness testimony is most convincing when it is collected early and accurately. Give us a call today or fill out our contact form to schedule a free case consultation, and let’s chat about how our hands-on car accident lawyers can help you gather, preserve and leverage the evidence you need to get the justice you deserve.