Legal Definitions - physical-facts rule

The physical-facts rule is a principle in evidence law that states that oral testimony can be disregarded if it contradicts or cannot be reconciled with the physical evidence in a case. This principle is also known as the doctrine of incontrovertible physical facts.

For example, if a witness testifies that they saw a car accident occur at a certain time and place, but the physical evidence, such as skid marks or damage to the vehicles, indicates that the accident occurred at a different time or place, the witness's testimony may be disregarded.

Another example could be a case where a witness claims to have seen a suspect at a crime scene, but DNA evidence found at the scene does not match the suspect's DNA. In this case, the physical evidence would take precedence over the witness's testimony.

The physical-facts rule is important because it helps ensure that the evidence presented in a case is reliable and accurate. It also helps prevent false or misleading testimony from influencing the outcome of a case.