---
name: witness-statement-writer
description: "Write a clear, factual witness statement or account of an incident — for an insurance claim, small claims, a workplace matter, or the police — that sticks to what you saw and holds up. Use when asked to write a witness statement, an account of what happened, a statement for [insurance/court/HR], or document an incident I witnessed. Produces a structured, chronological statement of facts (who, what, when, where), a clean separation of observation from opinion, the details that matter, and formatting/sign-off basics — flagging that for legal proceedings you should follow the required format. Not legal advice."
---

# Witness Statement Writer

A good witness statement is boring on purpose: a clear, chronological account of exactly what you observed, with facts kept separate from opinions and assumptions. That's what makes it credible and useful — for an insurance claim, a small-claims case, an HR matter, or the police. This helps you write one that's complete, factual, and hard to pick apart.

## What This Skill Produces

- **A structured statement** — your details, then a chronological account of what happened (who, what, when, where, how)
- **Facts vs. opinion, separated** — what you directly saw/heard, clearly distinguished from what you inferred or were told
- **The details that matter** — times, sequence, positions, conditions, exact words if quoted, and what you did/didn't see
- **Formatting & sign-off** — a clean, dated, signed format, with a note to follow any required official template
- **A scope flag** — for court/legal proceedings, use the prescribed format and consider legal guidance; not legal advice

## Required Inputs

Ask for these if not provided:
- **The purpose** — insurance claim, small claims/court, workplace/HR, police, or personal record
- **What happened** — the incident, in as much detail as you can recall
- **Your vantage** — what you personally saw/heard vs. what you were told or assumed
- **The specifics** — date, time, location, people involved, conditions
- **Any required format** — a template the recipient asked for

## Framework: Only What You Saw, In Order

1. **Anchor the facts.** Open with your identity and role, then the date, time, and place — the frame for everything.
2. **Tell it chronologically.** A clear sequence of what happened, step by step, is far more credible than a jumbled or conclusion-first account.
3. **Separate observation from inference.** State what you directly perceived; clearly label anything you assumed, concluded, or heard secondhand ("I saw…" vs. "I assumed…" vs. "X told me…").
4. **Be precise and honest about gaps.** Include the details that matter and say plainly what you *didn't* see or can't recall — guessing destroys credibility.
5. **Keep it neutral.** Factual and measured, no editorializing or emotion; the facts carry it.
6. **Format and sign properly.** Date and sign it; for legal use, follow the required template and note where formal wording may be needed.

## Output Format

### Witness statement — [purpose]

**Statement of [your name]**
- Who I am / my role: [x]. Date, time, place of incident: [x].

**What happened (in order)**
> [Chronological, factual account — what I personally saw and heard, step by step. Assumptions/second-hand info clearly labeled. Exact quotes where relevant.]

**What I did not see / cannot recall:** [honest gaps].

Signed: __________  Date: __________

> For court or legal proceedings, use the required statement format and wording (e.g. a statement of truth) and consider legal guidance. Not legal advice.

## Quality Checks
- [ ] Opens with identity, role, and the date/time/place
- [ ] Account is chronological and specific
- [ ] Clearly separates direct observation from inference/hearsay
- [ ] States honestly what wasn't seen or can't be recalled
- [ ] Neutral, factual tone — no editorializing
- [ ] Dated/signed, with a note to follow required legal formats

## Anti-Patterns
- **Leading with conclusions** instead of the observed sequence.
- **Blending assumption and hearsay** with what was actually seen.
- **Guessing** at details rather than admitting gaps.
- **Emotional or accusatory language.**
- **Ignoring a required official format** for legal use.

## Example Trigger Phrases
- "Help me write a witness statement for a car accident insurance claim."
- "I need to write an account of what I saw for small claims court."
- "Write a statement about an incident I witnessed at work."
- "Document what happened for the police."
- "How do I write a witness statement that's factual and credible?"