Share: Share this article on Twitter Share this article on Facebook

What Evidence Will an Attorney Gather Immediately After a Collision?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

What Evidence Will an Attorney Gather Immediately After a Collision?

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

Ask A Lawyer
Share

If you have been involved in a vehicle collision, it’s important to know what evidence to gather to be able to prove to the insurance companies and potentially to a jury how the accident came about and what damages occurred. There are certain types of evidence the victim of a collision might be able to gather on their own assuming they are in sufficient physical condition, and there are other types of evidence an attorney may be more adept or have a unique access to when building a case.

What to do immediately after a collision:

  • Call 9-1-1
  • Seek medical treatment
  • Get the other driver’s information
  • Take pictures/videos of the scene if possible
  • Collect witness information

It should be noted that if the victim of a collision is in the hospital or receiving medical treatment, they might be unable to take pictures of the scenes or collect witness information on their own. In this situation, it’s a good idea to have a family member or friend go to the scene as soon as possible after the accident to collect this information on a victim’s behalf—or if not, to contact an attorney who will immediately begin an investigation at the scene of the collision.

Evidence an attorney will gather after a collision:

  • Pictures of both vehicles
  • Pictures of the surroundings
  • Videos of the scene
  • Witness testimonies
  • The other driver’s information
  • Information from both parties insurance companies
  • Surveillance footage from nearby cameras
  • Tracking and driving log information from any work vehicle/18-wheeler involved
  • Information about both cars makes, models, and potential defects which might have contributed to the accident

While hiring an attorney to collect this evidence and conduct an investigation might seem out of reach, it should be noted that reputable personal injury attorneys including those who represent car accident victims work on contingency, which means a client doesn’t have to pay them anything unless their legal team wins the case for them. This allows the victim of a collision to focus on healing and recovering rather than stressing about paying for or handling the case on their own.

A variety of damages can be compensated after a collision.

Some common damages that a victim or the family of a collision victim can pursue when filing a claim include medical bills, lost wages, impairment of earning capacity, life care expenses, vocational rehabilitation, pain and suffering, as well as loss of consortium/care and companionship, wrongful death, and funeral expenses in the case of fatalities.

Multiple parties could be liable for a collision depending on a variety of factors, which an experienced attorney can identify.

Parties who could be liable in a car accident include both drivers, the car manufacturer and/or parts manufacturer if defects were involved, government, property owner, or employer depending on the situation. Even if you are partially at fault for the collision, you may still be eligible for compensation. To learn more about your rights after a collision and compensation you could be eligible for, seek legal counsel.

Legal Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. Use of this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Information entered on this website is not confidential. This website has paid attorney advertising. Anyone choosing a lawyer must do their own independent research. By using this website, you agree to our additional Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.