If you’ve been in a car accident and other individuals who were not directly involved were there to see it, these witnesses can be a valuable resource when it comes to seeking compensation for injuries and damage to property. Witnesses may make statements to police, insurance companies and court officials, helping establish who was legally at fault for the accident. To that end, it’s important to take the time to ask any witnesses some specific questions to get the right information from them.

Establishing the witness’s location

Ask the witness questions that determine how they viewed the accident. These questions can include:
  • When did you arrive at the scene?
  • Where were you coming from and going to when the accident occurred?
  • How far away were you from the accident site?
  • Did you have a clear view of the events?
  • Did you witness the entire accident from start to finish?
  • Where were you looking during and after the accident?

Discerning the facts of the accident

Once you have established where the witness was and whether he or she had a credible view of what happened, you can ask some questions about the events of the accident itself:
  • Ask the witness to describe the location of the accident, including lanes, traffic signals, intersections, the directions in which vehicles were traveling and anything else that could be relevant.
  • Ask how the weather affected road conditions (if at all).
  • What did you see, hear or feel when the accident happened?
  • How were the vehicles positioned before, during and after the accident?
  • How fast would you estimate the vehicles were traveling?
  • What would you estimate the distance or passage of time was between vehicles?
A skilled lawyer will be able to more thoroughly question witnesses to support your claim. For further guidance, speak with an experienced La Plata personal injury attorney at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.