What Should A Car Accident Witness Statement Contain?
Generally, anyone who sees a car accident happen can give a witness statement. Witness statements can be quite helpful. A witness statement can provide crucial information that can help a victim recover the compensation they deserve for their injuries and damages.
So, what should a car accident witness statement contain? Because every witness statement will look different depending on the facts of the case and the witness’s experience, the information in one witness statement will not be the same as the information in another witness statement. However, every car accident witness statement should contain certain key pieces of information.
This article looks at the importance of witness statements in car accident cases and the main elements of a car accident witness statement.
Why Are Witness Statements Important in Car Accident Cases?
A witness statement is important since it can help explain what happened. A witness statement can be beneficial in the event that there is no video footage of an accident. As much as the involved parties will share their side of the story, often, individuals do not take responsibility for their actions. This is where a witness statement comes in. Because a witness is generally an impartial individual who does not know the involved parties and does not have a financial motive for providing their account, their statement can help establish liability. Generally, an unbiased, detailed account of a car accident from a witness can help resolve the case.
Witness statements can prove helpful during the negotiation process. They can also be used in court as evidence. Additionally, a witness statement can be used by an accident reconstruction expert.
Main Elements of a Witness Statement
As already mentioned, all car accident witness statements are different. However, all car accident witness statements should contain some key pieces of information. Below are those key elements.
- Contact Information – A car accident witness statement must contain the witness’s contact information. This includes a witness’s full name, phone number, and address.
- Details of the Accident – When it comes to the details concerning the car accident, a witness statement should contain information about, among other things, the people involved in the accident, where the accident happened, and when the accident occurred. A witness statement also needs to contain the witness’s perspective of the accident. Generally, this is what the witness saw with regard to the accident.
- Observations of Injuries and Property Damage – A car accident witness statement should also provide a witness’s perspective about injuries and property damage. Suppose a witness saw specific injuries after a Florida car accident. In that case, their statement should include those specific injuries. On the other hand, suppose a witness did not see any specific injuries but noticed that a driver or passenger appeared hurt. Even in such a case, the fact that they noticed a driver or passenger appeared hurt should be included in their statement.
- Other Relevant Information – Lastly, a car accident witness statement should include any other relevant information. For example, a car accident witness statement should contain information on weather and road conditions.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you need more information on witness statements or help with a Florida car accident claim, contact one of our Tampa personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm today.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, Orlando, Ocala, Jacksonville, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach areas.
