A car accident can involve difficulties including injuries and damage to a vehicle, but in the instance that it also involves a “he said/she said” argument it can be even more difficult if you don’t have your details straight. If you bring this to court under these circumstances, who would a judge believe? Knowing the specifics of your accident is crucial in the case of “he said/she said.”
Who Is More Credible?
In a car accident case where there is a “he said/she said” argument, the judge will determine who they believe is more credible. Is it the plaintiff? Or is it the defendant? Judges don’t expect perfect recall, but they do expect a certain amount of consistency and reliability when it comes to the details of the accident. Being inconsistent with your details or too general can result in appearing not credible in the eyes of the judge. Especially in instances where the accident may have occurred several years earlier, relying on your memory alone may not be enough. It’s easy to forget specifics, and having trouble remembering the details can lessen your credibility from the judge’s perspective.
Write Down Specific Details of An Accident
After a car accident, there is a lot going on, which may make it difficult to recall everything accurately. Writing down specific details is important because you will be able to rely on recorded facts, rather than your memory, especially several years later. This will also help keep your details consistent. Being inconsistent in front of a judge, for instance, stating a detail and then changing it when asked again, will not help your credibility.
Some details you may want to write down include: the speed at which you were traveling, the location where you were driving and any specific details about that location that may be important, for instance, if it was located in a school zone, and the date and time that the accident occurred. Giving too general a response to when the accident occurred may appear unreliable to a judge, so make sure to record the date. Take note of other details of the accident that are relevant to your case, like how close your vehicle may have been to another vehicle or the timing of how an accident occurred. Knowing these details will help you seem consistent and reliable and will go a long way when a “he said/she said” argument occurs.
Avoid Inconsistencies or Assumptions.
Keeping your details consistent and specific will help you in your car accident case. Details should be written down and objective, so that you can report them in front of a judge. Answering a question based on an assumption is not nearly as strong as answering based on a fact that you know. For instance, assuming you were driving at a posted speed limit is different than knowing that based on your notes.
Writing down the details of your car accident may seem an extra task in the aftermath but being able to rely on fact and not your memory will help you tremendously if a “he said/she said” argument regarding the accident occurs.
