Car accidents can be stressful and overwhelming experiences, but it’s crucial to take the right steps after a collision to preserve all possible evidence. Whether you’re looking to seek compensation or prove the other party was negligent, understanding what evidence is necessary and how to document it correctly can make all the difference in successful car accident claims. In this blog post, you’ll understand more about what you need to know when looking for and preserving car accident-related evidence.

Many people will be involved in a car accident at some point in their lives. Hopefully it won’t be too serious, but having a car accident still generates a lot of extra tasks you have to do. One of the most important things you can do is to document and preserve evidence related to the accident. As well as you helping claim for damage to your car from your insurance company, this will also help if you engage the services of a personal injury lawyer.

So what are some of the key things you need to think about in terms of gathering and preserving evidence after a car accident?

Take Pictures

One of the most important things you need to do is take pictures of the damage. Make sure to get photos from multiple angles and distances, and if possible, take pictures of the vehicles before they are moved. Also take photos of license plates and any other identifying details of the vehicles. This can help to prove who was at fault in the accident.

Take Videos

If possible, videos can also be a great way to document the accident. Videos allow you to capture more of the scene than photos and can help to establish what was going on during the accident. Videos can supplement the information you can see in photos, and can catch anything you forget to take a photo of. If you see anyone else taking videos of the scene, ask them to send them onto you too.

Get Witness Statements

Witness statements can be an invaluable piece of evidence when it comes to car accident claims. If there are any witnesses at the scene, make sure to get their contact details and take down a statement from them about what happened before and during the accident. A statement should include details such as the time they witnessed, what happened and any other information that can help establish liability.

Take Notes

It’s often easy to forget the details of an accident, so make sure to take notes as soon as you can after the collision. Write down what happened, the condition of both cars, any injuries you sustained and anything else that strikes you as important. This can help to jog your memory later when gathering evidence or talking to a lawyer about the case. You could also take audio notes if you find this easier, recording everything that happened on the voice memo app on your phone.

Keep a Medical Paper Trail

It’s important to keep track of all the medical treatment you receive after a car accident. Keep copies of any appointment letters, bills and receipts related to this, as these can help you to prove your injuries when making a claim. Also keep note of all the physical injuries and symptoms you experienced after the accident, as well as any mental health issues or anxiety you experienced afterwards.

Gather Supporting Documents

Apart from the photos, videos and witness statements, there are also some other documents you need to gather. This includes the police report, medical records and vehicle repair estimates. All of these documents can be used to prove the extent of the damages, and can be used as evidence when filing a claim.

Ask Local Businesses for Footage

If you know the accident happened close to a shop or a business with security cameras, it’s worth asking if they have any footage which could be used as evidence. CCTV footage can help to prove what happened during the accident and can often be used in court cases. If any public transportation was passing by when the accident happened, such as a public bus, many of these capture video of their surroundings too.

Preserving the Evidence

The most important thing to remember is that the evidence you gather needs to be preserved. Make sure to store everything in a safe place and keep backups of all photos, videos and documents you have. If you plan on making a claim, having good quality evidence can help to prove who was responsible for the accident.

Get Legal Advice

The final step is to speak to a lawyer or insurance provider about your car accident claim. Gather all of the evidence you have and present it to the lawyer or insurer. This can help them to assess the case and can give them a better idea of what happened during the accident and who is at fault. With the right evidence, they can then help you to get the compensation or settlement you’re entitled to.

Having the right evidence can make all the difference when it comes to making a successful car accident claim, so it’s important to start gathering it as soon as possible after the incident. With photos, videos and witness statements, you can help to prove what happened during the accident and get the compensation you deserve.