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What Evidence Do I Need to Gather After a Car Accident?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

What Evidence Do I Need to Gather After a Car Accident?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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After a collision, it is important for an investigation to be conducted into the cause of the accident as well as the surrounding situation. Although there is some evidence a car accident victim can potentially gather for themselves at the scene if they are not being treated at a hospital, there is a great deal more an attorney might have access to when conducting a car accident investigation on behalf of a client. Some areas that need to be investigated in a car accident include evidence at the scene, information about the other driver, and information regarding both parties’ insurance situations.

Evidence from the scene of the accident.

Important evidence to gather from the scene of the accident includes pictures and videos of the wreck and surroundings, and property damaged, vehicles involved, as well as witness information and testimonies. While the driver might be able to gather this evidence on their own, there’s a good chance they might be receiving medical treatment instead, in which case they can send a family member or friend to the scene to collect evidence on their behalf. It is paramount that the investigation into the accident begin as soon as possible before evidence can be dispersed or misinterpreted by law enforcement or the other party’s legal representation. If you are unable to collect evidence immediately after the accident, it’s important to note that an attorney will immediately be able to gather this evidence and more after being brought onto your case. Evidence that an attorney might be able to gather that the average driver can’t may include surveillance footage from nearby establishments which might have recorded the collision, information recorded by law enforcement, information about whether the driver was using their phone at the time of the accident, and information from the employer of the driver if the vehicle involved was a work vehicle.

The other driver’s information.

After a collision, it’s important to get the other driver’s information. However, if the other driver is not cooperating, this can be difficult for a driver to do on their own. This is where an attorney can step in and use their pull to gather not only the driver’s name and vehicle information, but potentially other information regarding the driver’s past history as well. Allowing an attorney to communicate with the other party in your place is also wise because they will know what to say and not to say in order to protect you from liability in the case. It’s important to be extremely careful regarding what you say and what you sign after a collision. Even a blanket apology can be interpreted as an admission of fault and affect your potential for compensation.

Both parties’ insurance situations.

It’s no secret that dealing with insurance companies can be tricky. However, this is an important part of the investigation after a car accident. Similar to what you say to the other driver and law enforcement at the scene, it’s important to beware of what you say to the other party’s and even your own insurance company. It’s much safer to tell both companies that your attorney will be handling all communication on your behalf, since an attorney will know what questions to ask and what not to say to protect your interest in a potential lawsuit. These are just three of the elements involved in a car accident investigation. If you want to learn more about what goes into investigating a collision, or you want help investigating your own car accident, request a free consultation and see what a personal injury attorney can do for you.

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