Legal Definitions - corroborating evidence

Corroborating evidence refers to additional information or facts that strengthen, confirm, or support existing evidence or a claim. It doesn't necessarily prove a case on its own, but it makes other evidence more believable and credible by providing independent support.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Criminal Investigation: Imagine a witness tells police they saw a suspect, Mr. Smith, fleeing the scene of a robbery in a blue car. This witness testimony is a piece of evidence. If investigators then find security camera footage from a nearby business showing a blue car, matching the description, speeding away from the robbery location at the time of the incident, that footage serves as corroborating evidence. It doesn't definitively prove Mr. Smith was the driver, but it independently supports the witness's account of a blue car being involved and fleeing the scene, making the witness's overall testimony more credible.

• Civil Dispute (Contract Law): Consider a scenario where a small business owner claims they had a verbal agreement with a supplier for a discounted price on a large order. The supplier denies any such agreement. The business owner's testimony about the verbal agreement is their primary evidence. If the business owner can then produce a series of emails where the supplier's sales representative discussed "special pricing considerations" for large orders, or a draft invoice that briefly mentioned a "volume discount," these documents would be corroborating evidence. They don't explicitly state the exact verbal agreement but lend support to the business owner's claim that a discount was discussed and likely agreed upon, making their testimony more convincing.

• Medical Malpractice Claim: A patient sues a hospital, claiming that a specific surgical error led to a severe infection. The patient's detailed account of their post-operative symptoms and the timeline of their deteriorating health is key evidence. If an independent medical expert then reviews the patient's medical records and testifies that the type of infection and its progression are highly consistent with the alleged surgical error, this expert testimony acts as corroborating evidence. It supports the patient's personal experience and claim by providing professional, objective medical analysis that aligns with their story.