Getting Witness Contact Information May Make Your Case

If you’ve been in an accident, whether a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, an accident at work, or any other unfortunate incident, getting the names, phone numbers, and, if possible, addresses of any witnesses may be critical. Whether you file an insurance claim or are forced to go to court, witness statements may be necessary to prove your claim(s).
 

DON'T ASSUME THE POLICE WILL GET THIS INFORMATION!
 

Most people assume that if the police are called to the site of an accident, they put the names of witnesses on the accident report. This is not always the case. Often, the police are preoccupied dealing with injured individuals, restoring traffic flow, and ensuring overall safety of the area. By the time they get to taking witness statements, important witnesses may have left the scene.

For example, in one case, a woman was run off the road by a driver who then fled the scene. The injured woman was assisted by at least one witness who saw the accident occur. The victim and her husband, who came to the site of the accident, assumed the police had gotten the witness’s name and phone number. Unfortunately, when the couple went to make an uninsured motorist claim on their insurance policy, the claim was denied because there was no independent witness to corroborate their account of the accident. A statement from one witness indicating another driver had forced the victim off the road would likely have altered the outcome of their insurance claim and the insurance company’s obligation to pay at least part of her medical expenses, which exceeded $42,000.

Even if it appears the police might take a witness’s name and contact information, you should get that information yourself so you are certain you have it for your records.