In New York personal injury cases, eyewitnesses can be game-changers. Since they have a firsthand account of the story, their testimonies can add value and credibility to the victim’s claim. But imagine this: just as you thought you would win the case, the key witness disappears. Maybe they moved to a different state or did not want to get involved.
When an important eyewitness disappears, it can create problems for your personal injury case. This might be your key evidence, and without their testimony, your case might become significantly weak. With a witness to support the claims you will be making, it can be easier to prove your side of the story and that you deserve compensation.
If you lose a witness, it is important to act quickly. You must find new ways to gather evidence and details of the accident. This is where the skills of an experienced attorney in New York can help protect your case. To talk to a legal professional, click here. Meanwhile, read this blog to understand what you can do if your eyewitness disappears out of the blue.
Understanding the impact of a missing eyewitness
Eyewitnesses are very important as they can help you strengthen your claim. However, if an eyewitness goes missing in the middle of the case, it can affect your case. This can make it difficult to get justice.
A missing eyewitness means loss of firsthand account. These accounts can provide important details about the case, such as the sequence of events that resulted in the accident, and identify the parties involved. This can help understand who acted negligently and contributed more to the accident.
However, if there are no personal observations, the available evidence may appear weaker. This can create problems in proving liability and getting claims.
Courts also depend on eyewitnesses to understand the case better and find the culprit. If there are no witnesses, it will be difficult to prove the case.
What to do if an eyewitness disappears?
Steps to take immediately
If an eyewitness disappears, try to contact them by every possible means. Start by calling on their last known number. If you have an e-mail address, write an email requesting their help and telling them the importance of their testimony. It is important to approach them respectfully, as they may have valid reasons for their unavailability.
If contact is made, ask them politely why they are no longer available. Communicating with them effectively can help you know if they need some kind of support or assurance to feel comfortable participating in your case.
Conduct a background search.
Use online public records and data to collect information about the witness’s whereabouts. You can search for their recent address changes or any social media activity that can help you get their access. In some special cases, the court also allows you to hire a private investigator for this task. These professionals use various methods to locate the witness and have special access to resources that are not for the public.
Review previous statements or depositions.
Witness statements are often recorded. You can go through any previous statements made by the witness before they disappear. This can help you in proving your case without any live testimony.
Explore other evidence.
Look for other forms of evidence to support your case. This may include physical evidence related to the accident, such as photos, videos, documents, or digital records that might support the narrative of your case. You can also seek alternative witnesses. Try to find out other people who might have witnessed the accident, and can help you in proving your innocence.
Did your witness disappear?
Finding out that the one witness that you were relying on has disappeared or does not want to get involved anymore can be upsetting. To know what options you may have further, talk to an attorney today!
