Collecting the Evidence You Will Need at the Car Crash Scene

The familiar phrase ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ rings particularly true when you've been involved in a car accident and need to document what happened. Yes, a camera on your phone is a valuable asset, use it. But should your battery be dead or your storage full, having a backup disposable camera in your car for emergencies could make all the difference.

Accident photos should include car damage, skid marks pictures, and pictures of the accident scene. In case you are hurt or cannot take pictures, you need to have somebody else do it for you. Make sure to let them know exactly what crash scene photos you will need, and always good to check if they got clear pictures.

If you can, try to get the other driver’s name, license number, and insurance information (carrier; policy number; agent’s name/phone number). Also, try to get the names and contact information of passengers in the other vehicle(s) involved.

If possible, it would be important to get witnesses’ names, contact information, and license plate numbers.

If police are at the scene, ask them to file an accident report and get the officers’ names and badge numbers.

In some cases, car accidents can get more complicated. The insurance adjuster(s) may conduct an investigation to evaluate who is responsible, and how much a claim would be worth. The adjuster may contact witnesses, take some scene of the wreck pictures, pictures of car damage, and request you to sign a release of your medical records. The insurance company could hire an accident investigator, or the insurance adjuster may have vehicle accident investigation training.

The insurance company will probably request a copy of the police report. Insurance pictures could include pictures of skid marks, and other evidence which changes with time and weather. Accident reconstruction might be done to ascertain what happened, especially if somebody got seriously injured or killed. If it was an intersection accident, they may try to get red light camera video, in case the red light camera records video.

When a settlement amount is offered, they will ask you to sign an auto accident release of liability form. Once you sign this form, the insurance company is not liable for any further damages. Pay close attention to any documentation you may sign.

For a minor car crash, you may be entitled to car damages. With these kinds of wrecks, drivers often choose to exchange contact and insurance information, and not call the police.

In a serious car accident where people are hurt or killed or where there is major property damage, things get complicated. If you are injured, you shouldn’t file a claim, talk to an insurance adjuster, or sign any papers until you have talked to an auto accident personal injury lawyer.

Accidents, where somebody is severely injured or killed, are the worst of all the car accident types and unfortunately, they’re common. The financial consequences of these calamities affect everybody involved, no matter who is responsible. Frequently more than one party is at least partly responsible, either because they had the last clear chance to avoid the wreck, or because both drivers were breaking the law.

If you were badly injured, chances are that you will not be able to gather any evidence or information at the scene of the accident. If you escaped injury you may be in shock, or busy trying to assist the others involved.

As soon as you can, you need to contact a Car Accident Law Firm for help. Especially if there’s a lot of money at stake, you need an experienced team of car accident lawyers and other legal professionals in your corner.