At a glance, four trucks and one car make for a great damages case - but liability (or negligence) is the first issue to address. As is common in the metro Atlanta area, rain was a factor in this semi-truck accident. A jury recently returned a verdict for the four trucks involved in a multi-vehicle accident on I-20 in Augusta, Georgia. The reason? A flustered plaintiff on the witness stand.
What appeared to be a sure win for the plaintiff took a turn for the worse when he became flustered on the stand and began to agree with the defense attorneys regarding the location of his car, the speed he was traveling, and the location of the trucks involved. Witness preparation is an important aspect of case preparation in any trial attorney's arsenal. Generally it includes role-playing where the witness is cross-examined by one of his attorneys and asked tough questions in order to give him an idea of what may come while he is on the witness stand. More complex issues or witnesses who lack confidence may benefit from a session or two with a psychologist.
Further, truck accidents require special knowledge of the many federal regulations the truck drivers and their trucks operate under. For example, every year trucking companies must make sure their drivers are still qualified to drive a commercial vehicle.
Experienced trial lawyers will spend their money on witness preparation because they know the value of a confident witness on the stand. Juries want truthful, unwavering testimony - it makes their job easier. Cases are won and lost on the stand. If you have a question about a personal injury case and want to speak with one of our seasoned litigators, please give us a call.
