Many people at one time or another have been a witness to an accident, or needed one. A personal injury investigator in CT discusses the importance of witnesses after accidents.
Accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions even only resulting in minor vehicle damage still may affect your insurance rates and medical bills from accidents resulting in personal injury can quickly add up. It is common for private investigators to conduct accident investigations using a variety of methods. One common approach asked of private investigators to help determine liability is to locate witnesses, interview them and obtain written and/or recorded statements. Sometimes identifying a witness results from someone involved in the accident who provides information about them.
Identifying witnesses is important. While attending to injuries is a priority, if there is a possible witness to an accident and you can physically do so safely, try to get their contact information, including their full name, telephone number, work and home address. It’s not uncommon for a witness to an accident to change jobs or move in the future. Having this information, even if it’s not current at the time it’s needed, can often be used by an investigator trying to locate a witness in the future.
The reality is accidents are often traumatic. It’s understandable how confusion sets in from the accident itself, injuries sustained and when first responders arrive. If you’re not in a position where you can obtain contact information from a witness maybe a possible onlooker nearby can help you. Even being able to jot down the license plate of a vehicle a witness who may have left the scene before first responders arrived can be very helpful. An investigator conducting a personal injury investigation may search motor vehicle registration records which can help locate the witness so they can be interviewed.
In summary, a good witness to an accident can make a major difference in the outcome of a claim so try to get their contact information.