Getting into a car accident can be a stressful experience, making it difficult to think clearly. Even with all of that stress, it is important to document evidence of your accident as you go along. This evidence will help to show who is at fault and prove that you deserve the compensation that your legal professionals are advocating for.
In this article, you will learn all about the different types of evidence, who collects them, and how they can be a powerful tool in your case.
If you need hewlp with an injury claim we are here to help. Call our Decatur car accident attorneys at (678) 251-9309 to schedule a free consultation.
Types of Evidence to Collect at the Accident Scene
When you have gotten into an accident, there are a few different types of evidence that can be collected at the scene:
- Physical Evidence
- Photographic Evidence
- Witness Statements
- Police Reports
Each of these types of evidence can play a different role in your personal injury claim and insurance claims after the accident.
Physical Evidence
In the case of a car accident, most of the physical evidence will be collected by the police and documented in the official report that they write up. This may include vehicle damage and property damage surrounding the scene of the accident.
Photographic Evidence
Visual evidence will play another huge role in your case. The officers at the crash scene will take photos for their official report. However, if you can, it is recommended that you take photos as well. This will help to ensure that your version of events is the story being told.
Photographic evidence can also help to show the severity of injuries at the time of the accident, further supporting what the medical reports say.
Witness Statements
Witness statements can also prove to be helpful, especially if you were unable to take photos or were unconscious during the accident. Police will typically interview any bystanders to ask them what they observed. This is critical evidence for your legal team as it helps to provide a more objective perspective.
Police Reports
Finally, you will want to collect the police reports. In short, a police report is a detailed record of all the pertinent evidence that the police collected while they were on the scene of the accident and afterward.
What Should You Take Photos of After a Car Accident?
One of the best things that you can do to build strong evidence for your case is to take photos of the scene of the accident.
In your photos, you will want to document any visible injuries, weather conditions, road conditions, skid marks, and property damage that occurs.
All of these pieces of evidence will help to support your accident claim and paint an accurate picture that your accident lawyers can use in your case.
Collect and Keep Records of Your Damages
After the accident, you will want to make sure that you are collecting and keeping records of all of the damages that occurred from the accident. These records are critical in ensuring that you receive fair compensation and will be a major part of your legal proceedings. If you do not have solid evidence recorded, it will be very difficult to take legal action and file a personal injury lawsuit and accident claim.
Medical Records and Bills
If you are planning on filing a personal injury claim, medical records are one of the most important pieces of evidence that you can have. They will document any physical injuries that have come from the accident that you were maybe not able to get photographic evidence of. The records will also show the true extent of injuries and medical attention you had to receive, something that is difficult to show visually.
You will also need to make sure to save your bills from all of your medical appointments after the accident. Your personal injury attorney will use the medical bills to come up with a proposal on how much you should be compensated to pay for all of the medical treatment.
Vehicle Damage and Repair Bills
When you are filing a claim to the insurance company, you will need to make sure that you record all of the vehicle damage and the repair bills. This will ensure that you and all of the accident victims receive an appropriate level of compensation for the damages that are caused.
Keep a Car Accident Journal
Another great strategy that can help you to ensure a fair settlement for your accident is keeping a car accident journal.
The exact information that you include in your car accident journal is up to you, but some examples are:
- Accident Details
- Medical Care
- How Injuries Affect Your Life
- Overall Impact on Life
This information is invaluable because while the reports of medical professionals and police reports provide a good objective perspective, they do not show exactly how your life was affected. In personal injury claims, a big part of the case is how the involved parties' lives were affected. By having this journal you can show exactly how your life was affected on a daily basis from your perspective.
Lost Income and Opportunities
Finally, you will want to record lost income and opportunities. You can show this by showing records of the days that you were not able to attend work, letters from a medical expert saying that you could not work, records of events that you were supposed to attend but missed, etc.
Yet again, the purpose of this is to help the judge decide exactly how much compensation the driver at fault will owe you.
Do I Need to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
While you are not legally obligated to hire a car accident lawyer and can choose to represent yourself, working with accident attorneys is highly recommended. An experienced attorney will be able to analyze your evidence and argue your case based on years of experience, helping to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.
At Marks Law Group, our personal injury lawyers understand how to document essential evidence and make sure that your perspective is heard in court.
If you or someone you know is dealing with a car accident case, contact us at (678) 251-9309 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.