![]() ![]() ![]() For instance, the positioning of buildings or landscaping may have had an effect on sight lines. It’s hard to know what you’ll find useful, so record it all. Sometimes the immediate area can provide critical information - and writing down the details after an accident can take too long. Documenting the other people at the scene can help jog your memory of what happened or identify a witness that you or your car accident lawyer need to contact to support your case. And after an accident, you may well be in shock. Memories fail even under the best conditions. The other driver, passengers, witnesses, police officers, and other emergency responders.If something is obstructing a sign, like an overgrown bush or tree, or if a traffic signal or sign is not working or oddly positioned, document it. This is important if you’re trying to reconstruct how a traffic accident happened. If cargo fell or spilled out of a tractor-trailer, for instance, get a picture of it. Look for skid marks, broken glass, or any auto parts or debris from the collision. If one of the vehicles smashed into a building, hit a sign, or damaged any other property, get pictures of it. Same as with your car, get several images of all sides and from different angles. Don’t forget to photograph the interior of the vehicle. Take pictures of the front, back, and sides. Try to get pictures of the following things as evidence for your car accident: If you use the camera on your smartphone, the accident images and information about the date and time they were taken will be stored automatically. Just make sure the date and time stamp on your camera are correct. Something that doesn’t seem important now could be the key to your case later. It’s difficult to know for sure what information to collect after a car accident, so if in doubt, photograph it. You’re allowed to take pictures of everything at the accident scene. Take photos of the accident scene and car crash And if you’re physically unable to collect evidence for your car accident, try to have one of your passengers do it for you. Or if the police want to ask you questions or tell you to move, you should do as they say.ĭo what you can when you can. For instance, if you see a witness who could support your case while you’re taking pictures, you may want to talk to that person right away and continue snapping photos later. It’s not in a suggested order because every accident scene is different. The following are helpful tips for documenting car accidents. How to collect evidence after an accident If health and safety are no longer concerns, you can start taking accident scene photos and collecting other evidence for your auto insurance case. Even if you’re not at fault in a traffic accident, you have a “duty to mitigate damages.” In other words, you have to take reasonable steps to make sure your situation doesn’t get any worse. It’s important for your health - and it’s just as important for your insurance claim. The first thing you should do is check to see if anyone needs immediate medical help and get to a safe place. The safety and health of you and the other people involved in the traffic accident are most important. Your duty to mitigate damages after a car accident: Safety first! And the best time to collect it is at the accident scene. To do that, you’ll need evidence for your car accident claim. You may have to prove what happened to the police, to an insurance company, or in a court of law. Some car accidents are clear-cut and can’t be disputed - but many aren’t. ![]() The facts of the car accident are also often recorded in a police report, and the situation gets even more serious if the authorities think a law was broken during or leading up to the collision, such as driving under the influence. If who’s at fault is in dispute, an insurance company can deny your claim. In at-fault states, like Oklahoma, the at-fault driver (and their insurance company) is responsible for paying damages. Who got hurt in the car wreck, and how badly? What kind of damage was done to your vehicle? Who was responsible for the collision? The official answers to these questions - and others - affect much of what happens after a traffic accident. Why it’s important to document an accident scene and your injuries Proper documentation improves your chances of successfully settling with insurance or, if necessary, winning a lawsuit. Read on to get tips for documenting car accidents, how to take accident scene photos, how to obtain a witness statement after an auto accident, and keeping car accident records. Even so, what information you collect after a car accident, especially at the scene, can make a big difference in how successful you are in getting a timely and fair insurance settlement. The moments immediately after a traffic accident can be scary and stressful. ![]()
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