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Evidence to Collect After a Car Accident to Help Strengthen Your Claim
Posted on behalf of Peter T. Nicholl in Car Accidents Published on November 20, 2019 and updated on March 6, 2022.
After a car accident, it can be difficult to think straight. You may even be feeling disoriented. Aside from seeking medical attention for your injuries, it is important to try to collect evidence after the collision to help strengthen your claim for compensation.
Our experienced car accident lawyers in Maryland discuss several kinds of evidence we are prepared to gather on your behalf should we represent you to help prove negligence, establish liability and determine the value of your claim. Request a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Evidence and the Burden of Proof
You will not receive compensation after a car accident simply because you were involved in a collision. You have the burden of proof of showing that the other party’s negligent actions caused the accident and the full extent of your damages.
Evidence that can help you preserve and protect your claim include:
Police Reports
After you are involved in a car accident, it is important that you call the police even if the other party tries to convince you not to. It is the law and the police report that is made in response to the call can help establish that the accident happened and how it happened.
The responding officer may conduct an initial investigation to determine how the accident happened. He or she may examine property damage, talk to you and the other driver and evaluate the evidence at the scene. He or she may write down conclusions on the police report. He or she may also cite the other driver for a traffic violation, which can go a long way in determining fault in the accident.
Contact Information From Other Drivers
It is important to get contact information from the other drivers involved in the accident. This will be necessary to file a claim with their insurance companies.
At the accident scene, ask for the following information from any other drivers involved in the accident:
- Their name, address and phone number
- Their insurance company’s name and their policy number
- The model, make and year of their vehicle
- Their driver’s license number
- Their employer’s information
- The license plate number and VIN of their vehicle
Photographs or Video Footage of the Accident Scene
If you are able, try to take pictures of the accident scene from various angles. This can be useful for insurance adjusters, lawyers and juries to later evaluate and get a better sense of the scene. Take pictures showing the extent of you injuries, damage to the vehicles and other notable property damage.
Your lawyer could also help you look around for places nearby that may have cameras that could have recorded the accident scene, such as banks, businesses or traffic cameras.
Witness Statements
If there were other people who saw the accident, do not assume that the police officer will talk to all witnesses. Ask these witnesses for their contact information. Your lawyer could follow up later to try to get statements from them. Their perspective can be important evidence during the claims process.
Records of Property Damage
Often, the angle of damage to the vehicles can help determine how the accident was caused. For example, if there is damage to the bumper of one vehicle and to the front end of another, this may indicate a rear-end accident occurred, which is often the fault of the driver who is in the rear. Be sure to keep copies of all property damage records.
Documentation of Injuries
Your injuries will likely be a primary component of the damages you suffer in a car accident. It is important to obtain medical care quickly after a collision so that a doctor can diagnose the extent of your injuries and provide documentation showing the direct link between your injuries and the accident.
Keep all medical records, including medical bills you have incurred and treatment plans you are following to aid in your recovery, and provide them to your lawyer.
Discuss Your Case With an Attorney
Even though you can collect this evidence, you do not have to handle it on your own. Let an attorney from our firm review your situation in a free consultation.
If you hire Peter T. Nicholl Law Offices, we are prepared to conduct a detailed investigation into your accident and collect additional evidence on your behalf so that you can focus on your recovery.
Contact us today at 410-244-7005 to get started.
