How Do You Approach a Witness?
Car accidents are a regular occurrence in the Nashville area. While a crash can happen in an instant, it can have lasting effects on your physical health and financial situation. If you can show that another person was to blame for your accident, you have the right to obtain compensation for your many losses. Unfortunately, proving someone else was at fault is not always an easy task.
In order to sufficiently prove liability for a car accident and resulting injuries, you must present evidence demonstrating the cause of the collision. One important type of evidence that can be persuasive in car accident claims is witness statements. If someone saw what happened, their account can corroborate your claims of what happened. But how do you approach someone and ask them to help out in your case as a witness?
Approaching a Witness
It is important to get the information you need from potential witnesses so that you might get more information and assistance from them at a later date. If you are able to remain at the scene of the crash, you should not hesitate to speak with anyone who stopped. If you delay, they might leave the scene, and it can be difficult – or impossible – to ever track them down again.
When approaching a witness, remember to do the following:
- Always be polite
- Identify yourself as someone involved in the accident
- Ask them whether they saw what happened before, during, or after the crash
- If so, ask them if they would be willing to serve as a witness for your insurance claim
- If they agree, ask for their contact information, including their name, cell phone number, and email
- Ask if they will stay and give their version of events to the police when they arrive at the scene
In many situations, witnesses stop because they are willing to help. However, some witnesses might not want to get involved, especially if it involves talking to the police. For example, if someone has a warrant out or has frequent run-ins with law enforcement, they likely do not feel comfortable giving their information to an officer. In this situation, see if you can get their information for yourself, and your lawyer can contact them outside of a police report.
Timing is Important
After you receive a witness’s information, you want to speak to a Nashville car accident attorney as soon as possible who can help learn more about what the witness knows. If you sustained a serious injury, it can be all too easy to focus on your injuries and your recovery instead of initiating the insurance process. However, the longer you wait, the greater the risk you will lose some benefits of the witness. Memories fade or witnesses change their minds, and any delay can potentially jeopardize witness statements and assistance.
Let an Experienced Nashville Car Accident Lawyer Help You
After a crash, Bednarz Law can help with witnesses and proving liability for your injuries. Contact us online or call our Nashville office at 615-256-0100 to consult with a Nashville car accident attorney today.