Despite all the rules and regulation for drivers, as well as the new technology aimed at car safety, It is very likely that most drivers will eventually experience a major auto accident at one point in their lives. Car accidents come with a wide variety of negative effects. For example, property damage and repair costs, to injury, or even death. That is why it is so important to know how to respond if you are involved in a car accident. What you do immediately after, can have a big impact on what follows. The proper preservation of evidence will make a difference in determining accident fault and liability.
There are many kinds of evidence related materials that you should be aware of being able to use. Remember, the best time to begin documenting and preserving evidence is immediately after the car accident, but more appropriately, after everyone has received medical attention, if necessary.
Photographic/video evidence:
You will always have your cell phone with you, this is the best tool in case of an accident. Be sure to do your best to capture the scene of the accident as accurately as possible. Make sure to take pictures, and if possible, videos of the following items: vehicles involved, their damage, skid marks, debris, broken glass, property damage to road signs, guardrails, landscape, any road defect or construction work that may have contributed to the accident, and pictures of injuries.
Get the contact information from drivers involved:
Get as much information from any other driver involved in your accident. Driver’s license, current address and phone, insurance information, auto tag number, model and year of the car. Don’t wait for the police to arrive, that is one mistake that most drivers do, and don’t let the other driver refuse to give you this information.
Gather contact information from witnesses:
Once you have all the visual evidence, it is time to get the information from any witnesses. Ask the witnesses if they can also document what they saw. Having two perspectives will help greatly to clarify your case to your lawyer.
Capture physical evidence:
Be sure to collect information regarding blown tire treads, downed branches, and all other factors that may have triggered, or influenced the accident. The more detailed evidence, the easier for your lawyer to understand the dynamics of the accident.
Check your health:
It is advisable to go to the hospital room as soon as you can. Remember, concussion and other injuries don’t have initial symptoms; only a proper checkup will confirm if you suffered an injury during the accident. Once again, in order to document and preserve information about your injuries, you will need to have medical documentation; this includes x-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and physical examinations by a certified doctor.
The majority of accidents always should involve law enforcement. After the accident, it is important to hire an attorney who can help you work with the insurance companies. Providing your evidence to your legal council will ensure you receive fair treatment, and provide you with just compensation.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident, contact Maidenberg law Group for a free consultation. Call us toll free at (888) 520-9617, or contact The Maidenberg Law Group online.
