Key Witness Questions At The Scene of a Car Accident

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 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?

Before anything else, check on the witness’s 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.

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.

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, like the color of a traffic light or the direction a car was coming from.

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, the better.

Where Were You When You Saw the Accident?

Find out the witness’ location relative to the 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.

Have You Given Your Contact Details to the Police?

Confirm whether the witness has spoken to the police 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.

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. 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. Invite them to contact you if they think of anything else later on. Thank them sincerely for their time and assistance.

Contact Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC

Collecting witness information at the scene is critical, but it’s not always easy in the stressful aftermath of a crash. If you were in an accident, having an experienced personal injury attorney handling your claim can make all the difference. At Gatti, Keltner, Bienvenu & Montesi, PLC, our Memphis car accident lawyers 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 us at (901) 673-9651 for a free case review. We’ll put our knowledge and resources to work for you so you can focus on your recovery with greater peace of mind.