Eyewitness To An Accident

Eyewitness Statement

If you’re the eyewitness to an accident that caused property damage or injury to others, the recommendation is to report it right away. It could be recreational accident, car or truck crash, a slip and fall, a dog bite incident, or just about anything in-between. Along with being a witness, there are responsibilities. Whenever possible, provide your statement to law enforcement at the scene of the accident. It’s understood that not all witnesses have the ability to come forward right away. If this is the case, simply call 911 to provide your contact information and brief version of the accident. It’s likely that what the details of what you witnessed will need to be provided in writing. Even state if you noticed that other witnesses had left the scene of accident. Statements may also be requested from police or investigators at a later date.

When you’re witness to an accident, it means that your first-hand account could be used as a strong form of evidence. Be prepared to give your honest version; your viewpoint of what took place.

Injury Lawsuits Rely On Evidence

Personal injury lawsuits rely on a variety of evidence types to make a strong case. Besides someone who has witnessed an accident, evidence can be gathered from various other sources.  If law enforcement was called to an accident, there will be a police report. If there were injuries and subsequent medical services performed, then there will be medical records. Video surveillance and cell phone photographs are also solid forms of evidence. In some cases, the eyewitness to an accident will have obtained this type of evidence as well.

• cell phone data
• photos
• video surveillance or other recording
• first hand memory
• written statement
• recorded statement
• dash cam

Eyewitness To An Accident Scene

Eye witnesses are people who have a first-hand account of an accident. They may provide slightly different details of an accident than others. Observations between one witness and another can potentially be opposite. In a car accident, for example, one witness may approximate a car traveling at 40 mph and other 55 mph. The speed at which a car is traveling is an important piece of evidence. Written or live witness statements can potentially make or break a case. Although an eye witness’s account may differ significantly from another, don’t change your statement based on someone else. When you have witnessed an accident of any type, it’s crucial to be as honest as possible.

Witness statements about an accident can either help or hurt the injured part seeking compensation. This is because proving who is at fault will impact compensation to be awarded.  Witness statements help:

• Determine if injuries were caused by the accident
• Determine of the accident should be investigated further
• Determine who is at fault for the accident

Hire Attorney to Obtain Witness Statements

Hiring an injury attorney is important for a vast number of reasons. As far as witness evidence is concerned, they can help identify people who can support your injury lawsuit. The discoverability of witness statements can aid investigators who are uncovering details of a case. If you’re the injured, or if you have witnessed an accident, there are legal rights to be aware of. The legal team at Action Law Offices are experienced in this area. Contact them today for some free advice. Simply request a free consultation by filling out the form on this website. Or, call them directly at any of their three Wisconsin locations.

DISCLAIMER: Blogs and articles cover very basic accident and injury topics for education and awareness such as statistics, Wisconsin Laws, injury areas, compensation and injury victim rights. Information not intended for legal advice; consult with an attorney directly.