Following a car accident, thinking of what evidence to preserve is often not at the top of people’s to do list. However, preserving crucial evidence and information can be a game changer during a future lawsuit. In most cases, the amount of compensation received by an injured party is dependent on supporting evidence that proves what happened, the damages suffered, and the effect on your life after the collision. Therefore, preserving evidence is crucial.
What types of evidence can you collect after a car accident?
Typically, there are three different types of evidence that can be collected after a car accident: (1) damage evidence; (2) electronic evidence; and (3) verbal/written evidence.
1. Damage Evidence
Physical evidence includes the physical things that can be collected to show proof of what happened during a collision. This evidence includes things such as:
- Damage done to your car or any other property involved in the collision;
- Any injuries that you suffered;
- Copies of police reports;
- Medical records pertaining to any injuries you may have.
2. Electronic Evidence
Digital evidence includes any sort of digital or electronic evidence that may help prove what happened such as:
- Photos of the accident scene;
- Photos of damage to your vehicle or any other property involved in the collision;
- Photos of injuries at the time of the collision and as healing is progressing;
- Surveillance footage or dash cam footage;
- Black box data;
- Data from any health apps on your phone or smart watch;
- Phone records from before and immediately after the collision;
- Digital communications regarding the collision such as text messages or social media posts.
3. Verbal/Written Evidence
Verbal and written evidence can oftentimes be the most helpful evidence in your case. This includes verbal statements that are turned into written statements such as your own statements to emergency responders or other witness statements.
Witness statements are oftentimes very helpful as they provide an outsiders perspective and are often unbiased descriptions of what caused the collision. They also likely saw things that you did not see, before, during and after the collision.
Additionally, written evidence such as a log documenting your injuries, the amount of pain you are feeling on certain days or with certain activities, or calendar entries of time missed from work or medical appointments can be helpful later in the case to refresh your memory on things you may have forgotten over time.
Contact an Attorney with experience.
The preservation of all kinds of evidence and information is crucial is helping you get the most compensation after a car accident. This evidence is what makes it possible to prove what happened and why you need compensation for damages such as lost wages, emotional and mental distress, pain and suffering, property damages, medical expenses, and more.
However, getting this evidence is not always easy or possible. That is why it is crucial to contact an attorney with experience in car crashes as soon as possible following a collision. They can take the lead on gathering this information, which will allow you to focus on your recovery and getting back to your life as quickly as possible.
The attorneys at Waldron Tate Bowen Land have many years of experience in collecting all the necessary evidence and helping individuals who have been involved in a car collision. If you have been in a collision, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free case review.