If you were just in a car accident, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure what to do next. One crucial step you can take is to identify potential car accident witnesses and get their account of what happened. Witness statements can provide valuable evidence for insurance claims and legal cases. Here are the key questions to ask a witness at the scene of the accident:
Are You Okay?
The first question to ask a car accident witness should be about their well-being. Make sure you are both in a safe location, away from traffic or debris. If the witness appears shaken up or if the area seems unsafe, prioritize getting to a secure location before asking more questions.
Remember, the immediate aftermath of an accident can be chaotic. Car parts, broken glass, leaking fluids, and passing vehicles can all pose risks. If you or the witness are in danger, move to the sidewalk or a nearby parking lot. Safety should always come first after you have witnessed an accident. Check on the witness’s well-being by looking at them if they have external injuries. Accident victims can also have unseen injuries. Find out if your witness have sought medical attention.
What’s Your Name and Contact Information?
Introduce yourself to the witness and get their full name, phone number and email address. Their contact information allows you or your insurance company to reach out with follow-up questions. It also helps if you need them to give a statement later on.
When speaking to the witness, maintain a calm, friendly tone. Express your appreciation for their willingness to help. If they seem reluctant to share personal details, reassure them that the information will only be used for purposes related to the accident.
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What Did You See Happen?
Ask the witness to tell you in their own words what they observed before, during, and after the accident. Let them talk without interrupting. Their fresh recollection may yield important details. Details like the color of a traffic light, the direction a car was coming from, or if the car were safe distance from them matters. Other such as the time of the accident, the parties involved, relevant piece of evidence
As the witness is talking, take notes or, with their permission, use your phone to record their statement. Encourage the witness to speak slowly and to pause if needed. The more thorough their account of how the accident occurred, the better.
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Where Were You When You Saw the Accident?
Find out the witness’ location relative to the car crash or accident scene. Getting their vantage point helps determine what they reasonably could have seen and can lend credibility to their statement.
For example, a witness near the accident may have had a more precise view than someone across the intersection. A witness walking along the sidewalk may have seen the moments leading up to the crash better than someone who only looked over after hearing the impact.
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Have You Given Your Contact Details to the Police?
Confirm whether the witness has spoken to the police officer at the scene and provided their contact info for the accident report. If not, encourage them to do so, as this creates an official record of their involvement and statement.
If the police have not yet arrived, let the witness know that officers will likely want to speak with them. Offer to wait with the witness until the police get there. If they need to leave sooner, get their contact information and pass it along to the responding officers yourself.
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Would You Be Willing to Give a Statement to the Insurance Company?
Ask the witness if they would talk to insurance representatives who may call to ask them about the crash. Having a witness corroborate your version of events can help prove your claim and refute the other driver’s story. Ask them if they can sign a car accident witness statement. Respect the witness’s wishes if they decline.
Is There Anything Else You Remember That We Haven’t Covered?
Give the witness a final opportunity to share any other pertinent information. Sometimes, important facts need to be included in the initial account. The car accident witness’ responsibility can be ended if there is no other information available at this time. Thank them sincerely for their time and assistance. State that if you have other questions to ask a witness of a car accident, you would try to contact them later. Invite them to contact you if they have other valuable information that they forgot. Also, share that your phone is open if they think of anything else later on.
Contact Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC
Don’t know what questions to ask a witness of a car accident? Collecting witness information at the scene is critical, but it’s not always easy in the stressful aftermath of a crash. Having an experienced personal injury attorney handling your car accident case can make all the difference. At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, our Memphis car accident attorneys and our legal team can handle the witness outreach process for you, asking the right questions and ensuring proper documentation of key evidence.
Don’t try to go it alone after an accident. Contact us online or call our car accident lawyers at (901) 526-2126 for a free case review. Our law firm will put our knowledge and resources to work for you so you can recover with greater peace of mind.