Gather all relevant documents beforehand: the police report, photos of damage/injuries, medical records, and repair estimates. Write down a clear, concise timeline of events. Decide on the key facts you will share and practice stating them simply. Have a list of your questions ready. Consider consulting a lawyer before major discussions, especially for serious injuries. Treat all conversations professionally, as notes will be taken.

The property owner where the tree was rooted is typically responsible if the damage resulted from negligence. This means you could be liable if you knew or should have known the tree was dead, diseased, or dangerously unstable and you failed to take reasonable action. If the tree was healthy and fell due to an unexpected “Act of God,“ like an extreme storm, you generally would not be held liable for the resulting damage to your neighbor’s property.

At a bare minimum, you must get their full legal name and a current phone number. An email address and physical address are highly valuable additions. If possible, also note their connection to the event (e.g., “was walking dog,“ “driver of blue car”). This core set of details allows an investigator or attorney to follow up for a full, formal statement while the event is still fresh in the witness’s mind.