How to Write a Car Accident Victim Impact Statement
Being involved in an automobile accident can have a terrible effect on your life. People suffer from traumatic events, physical injuries that last a lifetime, PTSD, anxiety, stress, and other things. A victim may also have lost a friend or loved one who was also involved in the collision.
You might choose to file a lawsuit against the other party if you were the victim of an automobile accident that wasn’t your fault. A victim impact statement is one element that could have a big impact on your case. You may learn more about what a victim impact statement for a vehicle accident is, how to create one, some helpful hints, and an example statement by continuing to read.
This article can assist with the following queries and topics:
- Victim Impact Statement: What Is It?
- Writing a Victim Impact Statement: A Guide
- Examples of victim impact statements, along with tips for writing them, are provided below.
- Justification for a Victim Impact Statement
- Utilize Guaranteed Lawyers to locate a nearby accident attorney right away.
Victim Impact Statement: What Is It?
An individual’s written narrative of how an automobile accident affected them is known as a victim impact statement. Serious auto accidents frequently result in lasting effects. It’s a chance for the victim to describe the entire impact that the collision may have had. For instance, the victim’s fractured leg can be mentioned in a police report. Nevertheless, the additional effects, such as:
- A day off from work
- Medical expenses
- The price and length of physical therapy appointments
- cancellation of trips or plans
- Driving-related stress, anxiety, or depression
- the consequences of the accident and injuries for friends and family
Your victim statement provides a thorough account of how the person’s life has changed as a result of the auto accident.
Writing a Victim Impact Statement: A Guide
The specifics of the accident itself do not necessarily need to be the main emphasis of a victim impact statement. You shouldn’t believe that now is the appropriate time to discuss what occurred and who was at fault. The legal proceedings will address that. Instead, the victim impact statement should go over the effects you’ve suffered in terms of your physical, mental, emotional, and financial health.
It can be difficult to sum up the entire experience in a single sentence. Here are some pointers to help you navigate the procedure:
- the emotional impact should come first. You can talk about your feelings both then and now. On that day, you were probably terrified and horrified, and you could still be afraid and angry now. As much as you can, describe these feelings so the jury may fully appreciate how emotionally traumatic the car accident was.
- After dealing with the feelings, you can move on to discuss your physical impairments. You should discuss how painful these injuries were, how lengthy and difficult the rehabilitation process was, whether it forced you to miss work, the time you missed with friends and family, your interests, and other effects. You might want to conclude by telling a personal tale. Having to cancel a paid-for trip because you were ill is one frequent illustration. Or having to depend on and burden your family members while you were recovering, which had an affect on both of you. To ensure that the jury is aware of the full extent of your injuries, you must go over these specifics.
- Finally, you should underline the financial repercussions. You can pay the price this injury has cost you in terms of medical expenses, lost wages from work, and more. This will make it easier for the jury to determine how much money you and your family may be due in damages.
Writing a Victim Impact Statement for a Car Accident: Dos and Don’ts
Try to remember some typical dos and don’ts while you write your victim statement:
- Do: Instead of using the absolute “The defendant did…” assertions, write in “I feel” and “I believe” expressions. Only include information that you are certain is accurate, as the defendant may contest the veracity of your claims.
- Don’t: Take advantage of this to discuss the specifics of the incident and assign responsibility to the defendant.
- Do: Be honest about your feelings, give specific examples, and draw the reader into your experience.
- Don’t: Mention the type of sentence you believe the defendant deserves or would want to see.
- Do: Ask someone to check your statement for proper language and spelling.
- Don’t: Use profanity in your statement; doing so can make the jurors think less of you.
- Do: Staple any relevant documents, such as receipts, that can be used to substantiate your claims.
Victim Impact Statement Sample
The Honorable
I was involved in an automobile accident with Mr. Smith on August 25, 2021 in San Diego, California, near the junction of Fir Street and 96th Avenue. The mishap occurred around 2:00 in the afternoon. I was able to escape the collision with a fractured arm, but my automobile was totaled.
I had taken a short break from work that day to attend a normal doctor’s checkup. A automobile rammed into the side of my driver’s door, probably the most horrifying and traumatic incident of my life. My arm was pinned beneath the wheel and I was unable to move from the automobile as I sat there stunned. I was fortunate to be pulled out of the situation by the paramedics when they came. I can still hear me yelling in agony like I’ve never yelled before. After being transferred to the hospital, I learned that my arm had broken.
I had to wait nine weeks to get my broken arm fixed. My planned trip to Mexico had to be cancelled. In order for my mother to care for me, I also had to relocate to my parents’ house. I became a burden to the people I love the most, requiring assistance with eating, dressing, taking a shower, and other tasks. Even when I went to the grocery store, I was unable to remove my debit card from my wallet in order to pay for my purchases. I had to have someone with me wherever I went. I was frustrated by how useless and helpless I felt.
I had to take a leave of absence from work throughout my recovery, which cost me nine weeks’ worth of pay. The cost of the hospital alone was enormous, and I also had to undergo physiotherapy for six months. These appointments not only cost money, but they also eat up time each week.
I still don’t have complete use of my arm today. My arm is continually being shot down by a dull pain. More importantly, I haven’t operated a motor vehicle since the collision. I still struggle to get into a car. I occasionally have panic episodes and have flashbacks.
My life has been completely destroyed by this catastrophe, including financially, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. It’s unlikely that I will ever be the same again, but I don’t know when that will happen. I want the court to take into account all the effects this accident has had on my life when determining a compensation amount. It’s important for the jury to realise that, for myself, my family, and my friends, I am not who I used to be.
I appreciate you giving me your time today.
Justification for a Victim Impact Statement
The purpose of the victim impact statement is for the person to give a more thorough account of how the vehicle accident affected their lives, either immediately or over time. Additional advantages include how therapeutic writing and reading a victim statement can be. It enables the victim to speak up and share their perspective with the party responsible for the accident or the judge.
Finally, a victim impact statement gives your lawsuit a more unique feel. It’s a chance for you to address the jury and obtain the just compensation.
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Consider hiring a lawyer if you’ve been in a car accident so that you and your family can receive the highest settlement possible for your injuries. Thousands of injured drivers have gotten the just recompense they deserve because to our skilled auto accident attorneys. Every step of the procedure, including writing your victim impact statement for your auto accident, will be assisted by us. For a free consultation, get in touch with us today.