What Evidence to Obtain When You're in a Car Accident

The evidence that you obtain following a car accident helps to make a personal injury case. Even if you feel you are not injured immediately following the accident, obtain evidence, as many injuries do not show themselves right away. Here is what you need to know about obtaining evidence following a car accident.

What Should You Do Following a Car Accident?

If you are injured, the only thing you should be worried about is seeking out medical attention. If this is the case, notify the police department so they can come out and take an accident report while you go to the hospital.

If you are not injured or do not feel that you need medical attention right away, take the opportunity to obtain as much evidence as possible from the accident scene after you exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver.

What Type of Evidence Should You Obtain?

The better the evidence that you gather, the better your case will be if you pursue legal action. Be sure to look for the following types of evidence.

Witness Information

After a car accident, those who witnessed the accident typically stop to help. While these individuals are stopped and speaking to you, be sure to obtain their contact information. This may include their full name, address, cell phone, and email address.

If you are injured and your case ends up going to trial, witness information helps show why the accident occurred and who was at fault. However, once a witness is gone, tracking them down can be difficult, if not impossible. This is why you should obtain this information right away.

Photos of the Vehicles

Taking pictures of the vehicles involved in the collision after an accident is easier than ever, thanks to cell phones. After a car accident, grab your phone and snap pictures of the cars. It’s even better if you can grab the pictures before either car is moved.

This information can be used if your case ends up going to trial, as the damage done to both vehicles may be used to show who was at fault or substantiate how your injuries occurred.

Photos of the Accident Scene

Photos of the cars are not the only pictures you should take after a car accident. You should also be sure to take photos of the entire accident scene. Be sure to capture what the lighting was like, what the weather conditions were like and what the roads were like when the accident occurred.

If there were any other issues that may have played a role in the accident, such as a stop sign concealed by an overgrown bush or a traffic camera that was out of order, take a video or photograph of this as well.

Why Is It Important to Obtain Evidence After a Car Accident?

In order to win a personal injury case, you need to be able to show that the other driver had some or all of the fault for the accident. If you are unable to show this, you may be unable to recover any money for your personal injury case.

When you obtain evidence following a car accident, you help a lawyer prove fault for a car accident, or help a judge or jury decide fault.

If you injured in the accident, this evidence helps an attorney argue your personal injury case. If you have been injured in a car accident in the greater Huntington, WV area, Kenneth P. Hicks L.C. Attorneys at Law are here to help you. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.