Law

IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING EVIDENCE AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT

An unfortunate occurrence

No one ever plans for a car accident. They happen out of the blues. You can be stuck in traffic and get rear-ended by another vehicle. The thing with road accidents is that you can obey all the traffic laws but, if another party is not doing the same, you can get into an accident. There are over 35,000 deaths in the US alone as a result of car accidents. The threat to life due to car accidents is ever-present. Even the best safety measures can only drop the numbers a little.

With these scary numbers and the odds of car accidents at an all-time high, drivers must know what to do when they suffer a car accident. How do you respond when this disaster happens? What are the steps to take?

What you need to do

Immediately after an accident, call the police and or medical services depending on the severity of your injuries. If you call the police first, they will also send medical help to you. You should also consider getting in contact with a car accident attorney. They are specialists who understand the processes and can guide you every step of the way. At this point, you need to consider something else, evidence.

Find and collect evidence of the cause of the accident. Was the other driver drunk? Running a red light? Switching lanes abruptly? Was the accident caused by bad roads? Find this evidence, take a photo or make a video of it. You’ll be glad you did. If you are involved in an automobile accident, you’d be surprised by how much difference evidence makes in your case, even if the accident is a minor one.

Gather the evidence while it is there and fresh. Take photos of your car and the other party’s car. Get pictures of broken/damaged parts of the vehicle, your injuries, and any other information you can gather. You should get a copy of the police report, contact and insurance details. Get other pieces of evidence like car records, medical records, and work absence records. They will help to strengthen your file for claims.

Why this evidence is so important

The insurers on the other side of the table are always looking for loopholes to avoid payouts; don’t give them one. Evidence will help strengthen your claims to get what you deserve. If the case ends up going to court, your evidence will speak for you.

You should consider calling a car accident lawyer right after an accident. They can reduce the stress for you by finding and recording the evidence that your case needs. Car accident attorneys know what they are looking for on the scene of an accident, and they know how to find it. They also know how to press for more details and evidence. These lawyers can speak to eyewitnesses, get 911 recordings, and so much more. They will guide and represent you through what can be a tedious process. Also, if the case ends up going to court, you have a lawyer to argue your case.