A lot is going on during and after a car accident. Confusion, shock, and adrenaline tend to cloud memories, making it challenging to piece together the events that took place and determine who is at fault.
It is of great importance to establish liability if you want to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for damages. Finding reliable witnesses and asking them the right questions is something a Long Island car accident lawyer from Friedman & Simon, L.L.P will do on your behalf.
- How do You Determine Liability After a Car Accident?
- What Questions do You Ask Witnesses About a Car Accident?
- How Can a Lawyer Help You Build Your Case?
- Learn More About What Questions to Ask Car Accident Witnesses Today
How do You Determine Liability After a Car Accident?
Car accidents can be messy, but investigations conducted by police, by our law firm, and, if called for, by experts we work with, should determine the chain of events leading up to the accident and who the liable parties are depending on how many vehicles and drivers were involved.
To determine liability, it is crucial to gather evidence, including:
- The police report: The police report is a key piece of evidence that includes information about the accident in detail. You will find information such as the date and time of the accident, witnesses, and the names of the parties. The report may also indicate if one of the parties is in custody, such as for drinking and driving.
- Surveillance and Dashcam Footage: Video footage of the accident helps determine the directions each vehicle came from, if a vehicle ran a stop sign or red light, and how fast the vehicles were going.
- Photographs: Pictures of the accident scene preserve many details of the accident even after clearing. You can use pictures to demonstrate the extent of property damage, to support arguments about vehicle speed, to establish liability based on points of impact, and to support and expedite the various insurance claims you may make.
- Expert opinions: Car accident experts, often referred to as “accident reconstruction experts,” can provide testimony supporting your case by backing up or refuting details of the police report and by providing information to confirm that the accident is the cause of your injuries.
- Witness statements: When parties dispute fault in a car accident, witnesses who saw the accident take place can make a difference. That’s why collecting contact information from witnesses can help your lawyer build your case. Asking them the right questions often goes a long way toward figuring out what happened and determining who is liable.
For a free legal consultation, call 516-932-0400
What Questions do You Ask Witnesses About a Car Accident?
Having witnesses to support your claim about the car accident helps establish liability and the facts of your case, making it challenging for the liable party to dispute. But what questions are appropriate to ask witnesses? The right questions often produce revealing answers.
- When did you first notice the accident?
- What did you see?
- Did you hear anything?
- Where were you when you saw/heard the accident?
- Who, if anyone, was with you when you witnessed the accident?
- How far away were you from the accident?
- Did the drivers say anything to each other after the accident?
- Did adverse weather have anything to do with the accident?
- Did or can you make a statement to the police?
- Did you see the accident clearly or was something obstructing your view?
- Did either driver appear to be speeding?
- What did you do immediately after the accident?
- Can you draw a diagram of the accident/scene?
- Did anyone flee the scene of the accident?
- Did anyone take the blame for the accident?
- Which driver exited their vehicle first?
- Do you personally know either of the parties?
- Can you point out any additional witnesses?
- Do you have experience or expertise in car accidents?
- Can you provide your contact information?
Witnesses can offer valuable testimony, but they often disappear before or after first responders arrive. If you are able to do so, you should at the very least collect contact information from witnesses. Witnesses are not only useful when your case goes to trial, but they can also be useful prior to that during depositions, where their statements under oath could impact settlement offers. This is especially true if the liable party and their insurer are convinced they would be better off settling before a jury hears what a witness had to say.
How Can a Lawyer Help You Build Your Case?
You don’t have to do everything yourself. Our team of personal injury lawyers has experience handling car accident cases and recovering compensation for victims. In fact, generally speaking, we tell our clients that “we’ll take care of everything related to the case, you just need to follow the doctor’s orders and recover.” Feel free to review our car accident case results to see for yourself the experience others have had when they chose our firm to represent them
If you choose to hire us to handle your case, you can expect our team of experienced attorneys to:
- Investigate the accident and gather evidence to determine liability
- Determine which damages apply to you and calculate the value of your case
- Interview witnesses of the car accident
- Negotiate a settlement with the liable party that appropriately covers your losses
- File a person injury lawsuit on your behalf and represent you at trial
- Communicate with you about the status of your case
- Respond to your messages and answer your questions
- Work on contingency so you don’t pay us unless we win
- Meet all deadlines, including the statute of limitations, in your case
We will fight for the compensation you deserve all while protecting your rights against those who would seek to take advantage of you. We understand the legal process, and we want to help you understand it as well. Your lawyer will even travel to you on Long Island or within the New York metro area if you are unable to come to our office.
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Learn More About What Questions to Ask Car Accident Witnesses Today
You must be able to prove the other driver or drivers are liable for your injuries and financial expenses as well as prove that they were negligent. This is often a challenging task, and intimidating. In addition, according to New York State law, you only have three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the liable party.
But having an attorney from Friedman & Simon, L.L.P. on your side will allow you to focus your time and energy on healing instead of the legal hoops you have to jump through to recover compensation. Part of this process is interviewing witnesses.
To learn more about what questions to ask a car accident witness, call for a free consultation or contact us online. We are ready to talk to you about your case today.
Call or text 516-932-0400 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form