5 Important Questions to Ask a Car Accident Witness

Many things can strengthen a car accident case, such as medical records, police reports, photos, and video footage. However, witness testimonies are sometimes relied upon, which can add some weight to the accuracy of the victim or defendant’s version of events. 

When you become a lawyer, you will learn to ask questions that help paint a picture of what happened at a potential crime scene. However, you first need to know what to ask. Here are some of the many important questions that car accident witnesses can be asked. 

In Your Words, How Did the Accident Happen?

A skilled team of lawyers like Caffee Accident & Injury Lawyers knows that one of the most critical questions is to ask how the accident happened from the witness’s perspective. 

Asking them to say it in their own words allows them to explain their version of events based on where they were positioned when the accident happened. 

How Do You Think the Accident Happened?

Lawyers trying to gather as much information as possible may see the value in presenting open-ended questions rather than close-ended ones. An open-ended question prompts the witness to form their own response rather than providing a yes or no answer that may lead to some information being unintentionally omitted. 

Asking a witness how they think an accident happened allows you to draw a conclusion on how it looked to those who were there to see it for themselves. Sometimes, the accident scene can look much different to people who witnessed it from those involved in it. 

Where Were You When the Accident Happened?

Asking where a witness was can lead them to tell you what they were doing when it happened. This can shed some light on whether they had their full attention on the accident happening in front of them or whether they were distracted at the time. 

This question may be asked of the witness by defense law firms, which means the more you can learn from your witness, the more robust your case may end up being. 

Did You Notice Any Other Witnesses?

Finding witnesses to an accident may strengthen a case and put you in a better position to receive a worthwhile settlement. The more witnesses you have, the stronger your case may be, but even finding just one may lead you to more. Ask a witness if they noticed any other people at the scene. 

They may be able to point you in the direction of a shop owner with CCTV footage or a friend they were with at the time of the accident. 

What Was the Weather Like When the Accident Happened?

Car accidents can happen for numerous reasons, such as another driver not giving the right of way, or adverse weather conditions. Understanding what the weather was like may help you to determine how the accident likely happened in the first place. 

It won’t always be relevant, but even learning about the sun’s positioning in relation to the driver’s eyes may make a considerable difference to a case. 

Asking questions in the right way can sometimes be how you get the information you need from witnesses to an accident. Asking the same question in two different ways may also yield different answers. These questions above might be how you strengthen your case for a successful outcome.