Evidence is critical in any type of legal case, but in a personal injury case related to a car accident, motorcycle accident, bus accident, or any other type of motor vehicle accident, it’s absolutely vital. This is because a motor vehicle collision can devolve into a he-said, she-said situation in which a jury might not know who to believe. For this reason, it is crucial that you gather as much evidence related to the crash as possible. A car accident lawyer can assist you in obtaining documents that can help your case, but there are other types of evidence that you can gather yourself.
Photographs of the Accident Scene
Hopefully, even in a bad car crash, you won’t be so severely injured that you can’t get out of your car and take photographs. Pictures of the condition of the vehicles, placement of the vehicles, debris from the crash, skid marks, broken glass, road defects, construction work, traffic lights, traffic signs, and weather and lighting conditions can really help you describe the scene at a later time.
Fortunately, if you’re like most people these days, you have a camera on your phone and can capture these pieces of evidence immediately after an accident. Don’t move your vehicle until you’ve been able to take all the photographs you want from various angles.
Of course, if you’ve been severely injured, you might not be able to take photographs immediately after the accident. Once you’ve recovered enough to return to the scene, take pictures then. There might still be some evidence of your car accident, but you can definitely take photos of the surroundings that might have led to the crash, such as trees blocking a view, potholes, improperly marked lanes, etc.
Witness Statements
Again, if your injuries do not prevent you from talking to other people right after the crash, attempt to get their names and contact information. Witnesses include other drivers, pedestrians, or anyone else who observed what happened. If possible, try to get any witnesses to stick around and give their statements to the police when they arrive. That way, their information and fresh recollection of the event will be documented in the police report.
Driver’s Information
Always get the information of the other party or parties involved in the car accident. This includes their driver’s license, contact, and insurance information.
Write down their license plate number and if possible, take a picture of it. If they try to say they weren’t involved at a later date, you will have evidence that they were. If the other driver was driving their company’s vehicle, also get the name and contact information for their employer.
Police Report
As previously mentioned, the police report of a car accident is one of the most important pieces of evidence in a personal injury case. Make sure you call the police, no matter how minor the accident seems, and obtain a copy of the report as soon as it’s ready.
Evidence of Injuries and Property Damage
Always take photographs of any injuries and property damage that occurred from the car accident. Then, get medical attention as quickly as possible to have documentation of your injuries.
Be sure to keep all receipts, including those from the pharmacy, and any other paperwork that results from your hospital or doctor’s visits.
Conclusion
These pieces of evidence mentioned here are going to bolster your personal injury case and make sure your side of the story is told in as complete a way as possible. A personal injury lawyer can use this evidence to effectively present your case to insurance companies and juries to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
