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How to Approach an Eyewitness after a Car Accident

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Here is what you need to know when approaching eyewitnesses to an auto accident you were involved in.

Many car accidents result in serious injuries that leave the victim with piling medical bills, lost wages, and income opportunities, and maybe even lost relationships or mental injuries. 

two drivers talking after a car crash
The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.
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Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
This auto accident law firm is incredible!! Very accomplished lawyers!
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
You are a great lawyer! Thank you.
Asked a trauma surgeon who operates on car accident victims who are the best injury lawyers that have taken his deposition. He said “by far” it was Mr Hoffmann. Interviewed several attorneys and this was a correct assessment. In a league of his own!
My aunt was in a major automobile accident. Our family interviewed several lawyers. This one stood out about them all. It was a great choice!
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
Major car accident injury in St Louis area for a family member. Four different lawyers we know said the same thing - call Chris Hoffmann. On another level.
Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
Very pleased with The Hoffmann Law Firm. Lawyers are attentive, friendly and go the distance to force the settlement you want. The TV lawyers recommend low offers. This law firm gets the maximum.
Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
You will love this car accident lawyer.
Response from the owner: You are the best! Thanks for the review. Our attorneys work hard but it all starts with a great client.
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Great law firm thanks Leah for the referral
Response from the owner: Appreciate you recommending our law firm. Car accident litigation is all we do and specializing allows us to focus.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
Response from the owner: Thanks Nathan. TV lawyers market for car accidents, use paralegals instead of lawyers and give their employees settlement quotas hence forcing cheap settlements. At our law firm, you get a lawyer who keeps pushing forward for more.
A+ attorney. Smart. Helpful. Great for automobile accident cases. Located in saint louis, missouri. Use him!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Car accident cases are difficult without the right attorney and great clients. Much appreciated.
Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
Get this lawyer if you have an automobile accident. Simply the best!
Response from the owner: Thanks Lizzy. Recommendations from other is the best way to find a car accident attorney.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Very very good at injury claims for car wrecks. Use this St Louis attorney. Two thumbs up!
Response from the owner: Thanks for the review! All we do is accidents. When you specialize, your knowledge base and practice skills grow. Thanks!
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Best for car accidents in St Louis. Use this attorney.
Response from the owner: Thanks. Great clients make for great cases!
This lawyer is great for car accident injury claims. Did an uninsured motorist case. Very good attorney.
Response from the owner: Car accidents can be insured or uninsured. The claims are much different. Thanks for the review.
Great lawyer if you are in an auto accident. I recommend this attorneys office.
Response from the owner: Thanks J. Glad we got your auto accident case completed and that for telling others about our lawyers.
Very good car accident attorney. Did my and my relatives claims and paperwork. Highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our law firm on car accident cases.
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
Response from the owner: Thank you!
Recommend this attorney for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our attorneys for an automobile accident.
Best St Louis lawyer for car accidents.
Response from the owner: Thanks Tana. Appreciate this!
Great Lawyer!!
Response from the owner: Thank you
I was in a car accident in St.Louis and hired Chris as my lawyer. He was amazing!!! He helped me every step of the way and was able to get me a great settlement!!!Highly, highly, highly recommend him!
Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
If you have an auto accident and need an attorney in St Louis, I recommend Mr Hoffmann.
Response from the owner: Appreciate this James and you did great as well. Car accident claims always start with a good client.
Great car accident lawyer. Did a very good job on my injury case. Thanks!
Response from the owner: Thanks. Appreciate the compliment. All we do is car accident litigation.
Very accomplished accident attorney in Saint Louis. 5 stars for sure!
Response from the owner: Thanks
A car accident lawyer I would recommend to anyone.
Response from the owner: Thanks. That is great of you to say about our lawyers.
Great car accident attorney!!
Response from the owner: Thanks
When I had my accident he was very professional, honest and caring to me and my family it wasn't about the money it was about the care, he made sure me and my kids were took care of and I really appreciate it this is a gexcellant law firm also his secretary is the best,so I would like to say thank you chris for everything melinda .
Response from the owner: Thank you
Great car accident lawyer in St. Louis. This is a very good car accident lawyer in St. Lious. Takes phone calls. Listens. Experienced in injury litigation.
Response from the owner: Thanks Maddie. Our law firm brings experience to the table on car accident cases.
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Filing a claim to cover these expenses can be stressful, and a good start is crucial for building a strong case. Whether you have just been in an accident or you just want to be prepared for whatever may happen in the future, here is what you need to know about approaching eyewitnesses at the scene of a car accident you were involved in. 

Potential Eyewitnesses to Your Accident

An eyewitness refers to anyone who saw or witnessed the accident. Their testimony may be used in your injury case. However, selecting the correct eyewitness is essential to help support your claim. The most credible eyewitnesses are critical. For instance, the person who saw the accident’s events unfold and take place is more credible than the person who showed up after the fact.

Potential eyewitnesses to your accident may include:

  • Other drivers on the road
  • Passengers in other vehicles
  • People inside nearby homes
  • People inside nearby businesses
  • Pedestrians in the vicinity of the accident
  • People who stopped to help

The people who witnessed the events that led up to the accident may provide crucial testimony. They may have seen the other driver texting or talking on their phone or driving negligently in some other way.

How Witness Testimonies are Obtained

Sometimes, a witness to the accident will step forward and offer a statement. If you are not seriously injured and it’s safe, talk to the other drivers or people in the area who witnessed the accident and ask for their contact information.

If you suffered severe injuries and couldn’t get that contact information or didn’t get it for any other reason, that’s ok. This is where our attorneys will help. We will gather eyewitness information from the police reports or by visiting the scene of the accident and speaking to people who may have been in their homes or places of work at the time.

Find the Most Valuable Eyewitnesses

The best eyewitness accounts will be provided by the people who were close to the place where the cars crashed and had a good view of the incident. An observant eyewitness can provide valuable testimony, so look for people who are reactive and seem to respond to the accident quickly.

If you are fortunate enough, you might have eyewitnesses who work as first responders, like doctors, police officers, or firefighters off duty. However, any eyewitness can be an asset for your case, as long as their testimony is reliable and doesn’t contain discrepancies.

Ask for Their Contact Information

After being in a car crash, you might already be very busy calling the police, talking to paramedics or police officers, or even dealing with dangerous situations. If your health allows it, try to get as contact information from as many eyewitnesses as possible.

The police might do that too, but it’s best that, if possible, you have the information as well so that your St. Louis auto accident attorney can ask for additional information from them if needed. 

Ask the Eyewitness What They Saw

Ask concise, simple questions, like “What did you see, exactly?”, and avoid redirecting the conversation to a vague area. They might be under the influence of adrenaline, too, and may provide inaccurate or unverified information. Let them vent out, avoid being part of the assumptions, and try to get as many facts from them as possible. 

How Testimony from an Eyewitness to Your Car Accident Can Help Your Claim

An eyewitness statement can impact your injury claim because it can be a crucial piece of evidence to help prove the other party is at fault and, therefore, liable for your damages.

Eyewitness statements are usually gathered before a lawsuit is filed at the beginning of the claims process. Your attorney may provide an eyewitness statement that implicates the other driver. This may persuade their insurance company to offer a settlement out of court. In many cases, the insurance company will deny liability without credible eyewitness testimonies, making it much more challenging to recover damages.

Auto Accident Lawyer St. Louis

Speak With a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney

It is a good idea to speak with a St. Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible after a car accident. They can contact eyewitnesses on your behalf.

Eyewitness testimonies can weigh heavily in an insurance claim, especially when liability is hard to prove otherwise. Knowing how to approach them, what questions to ask, and how can give you valuable information that could help your case. 

Of course, that requires a lot of work, but your car accident lawyer can take this burden off your shoulders. 

Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

Updated: August 18, 2024