Witness contact checklist

Use the parts that fit your situation. Safety, medical care and official instructions take priority over completing the list.

  • Ask what the person saw or heard with an open question
  • Request a name and preferred contact method
  • Note where the witness was positioned
  • Record the date and method of the conversation
  • Ask whether an insurer or agency already contacted them
  • Stop if the person does not want further contact

Keep with each witness

Keep original records together and use copies when you need to annotate, share or sort them.

  • Contact details stored privately
  • Original text, email, audio or written statement
  • Your factual contact log
  • Any photos or video the witness voluntarily shared
  • A record of who received a copy

Why this matters

Separating the original account from your summary protects the witness's language and makes the contact history easier to understand.