A professor of psychology at Edinburgh University has said that people can struggle to remember small details within seconds of an accident, which often prove crucial when people are taking legal action afterwards.
Manchester law firm, Croftons consulted with members of Edinburgh University’s department of psychology to determine the impact accidents have on memories, in particular the recollection of events, as part of the development of the firm’s recently-launched Accident App.
The professor emphasised that people forget detail – especially in moments of trauma – quicker than you would think. “If the incident is particularly serious all details can be lost permanently within a few seconds, but in any accident, on the road or at work, emotions take over and small details lost. After an hour or two – if it’s not recorded in some way – most people struggle to remember exactly what happened.”
Simon Leighton, managing partner at Croftons, said these insights had helped the design of the firm’s App: “We know, having dealt with many people in the immediate aftermath of an accident, they are not thinking straight. Smart phone technology provides a route map through the confusion. You can write things down in an orderly way, photograph the place of the accident and record eye-witness statements – all of which is admissible in court.
“When we get this kind of evidence we can make a quick assessment of whether there is a case to answer and be more confident of success. This is good news for the claimant – who does not then have to spend more time piecing together missing evidence – but also for the process itself, which is dramatically improved in time and cost.”
Medico-Legal News Source: Post Online
