When an accident occurs, you may not realize that you are injured. As such, you may not collect or gather information, as you are not thinking about a lawsuit in the future. However, it is important to be proactive and gather as much information as possible when an accident happens, regardless of whether you think you are injured or not. The evidence you collect can play a key role in a case down the road and can be beneficial if you have to hire a Detroit based car accident attorney or an attorney near you. Here are some important types of evidence that you should collect at car accident scene.
Pictures or Videos of the Vehicles At the Accident Scene
Immediately following an accident, use your cell phone to take pictures or videos of the damage caused to both cars. Ideally, you want to do this before the cars are driven to the side of the road after an accident. Being able to show the types of damage sustained to both cars and the position of both cars can be key to showing who was at fault for the accident. This is important if fault is disputed or if you and the other driver have very different stories about what led to the accident happening.
Pictures or Videos of the Conditions When the Accident Happened
There are many conditions that can lead to an accident happening. If it is raining, the roads may be slick. Or, if a tree is overgrown, it can hide a stop sign. In addition to taking videos or pictures of the vehicles, you should also take pictures or capture videos that show the exact conditions when the accident happened. Show the lighting, show the weather, and show how busy the intersections or roads were. This can all be used to paint a picture for an insurance agent, judge, or jury.
Witness Information or Statements
It is extremely common for individuals who witness the accident to pull over and check on the individuals who are in the cars. However, once they verify that the parties are alright, they often leave the scene. It can be hard to track these witnesses down. As such, it is important to obtain at least their names, addresses, and phone numbers, or to get a full statement.
A Police Report
If you realize that you have sustained injuries right away, if the other driver is being combative or elusive, or if both vehicles sustained major damage, you should obtain a police report. This is a great way to document all of the information if you need to go to the hospital or don’t want to deal with a hostile driver.
A car accident attorney always recommends that you collect as much evidence as possible at a car accident scene. Once the cars move and the conditions change, it can be nearly impossible to get that information back. This evidence can play a key role in showing why an accident happened and who was at fault if fault is ever disputed. It can also be vital if you wind up with injuries and need to file a personal injury lawsuit.