While being involved in a car accident can be a scary and overwhelming time, especially when they come out of nowhere when you least expect it, it’s important you try to stay as focused as possible to ensure the process of dealing with the accident afterwards goes as smoothly as possible. This is essential for both minor and major accidents.
One aspect you’ll need to focus on is what kind of evidence you can use in a car accident case. Whether you’re talking to insurance companies, approaching a Schaumburg auto accident injury lawyer (or one better suited for your area) or you need to go to court, evidence will help prove what happened and who is at fault. In today’s guide, we’re going to be talking about the five essential pieces of evidence you’ll need to focus on and acquire.
1. Basic Personal Information
Perhaps the most important information, although the most basic, you need to make sure you’re gathering evidence from everyone involved in the accident, both personally and the vehicles they’re driving. You want to get all the names, the addresses (home), all relevant contact phone numbers, the license plates of the vehicles, the insurance policy provider details, and vehicle reg numbers.
2. Medical Evidence
If you go to hospital, the doctors, or you have experienced some kind of injury from the car accident, make sure you’re keeping the records as medical evidence. If you go to court or need to prove that you were injured, even months after the accident has taken place, then you’re going to need these records to prove it.
A car accident lawyer can help you understand how to get these documents, as well as processing any of the forms of evidence we’re talking about today.
3. Take Photos
Photographic evidence is going to be one of the most important forms of evidence you’ll have in your case because it will clearly show what happened and where the damage occurred. You can also record basic information such as vehicle registration numbers. Make sure you’re also taking photos of the location of the accident so you can identify any hazards.
4. Witness Statements
Witness statements are very important for proving what happened from an outside perspective. When an accident takes place, you need to ensure you’re going around to anyone who was about who’s able to give a statement of what happened. Make sure you take down their names and contact numbers in case you need access to them again.
5. Collect Police Reports
It’s vital you always contact the police and get them to the scene of an accident, no matter how minor it may seem, because they’ll be able to give an official police report of what happened and the damage caused. This way, if you’re ever accused of something happening, you can use the police reports to back your claims.
Summary
There are plenty of pieces of evidence you can collect after a car accident that will help you to see what happened, who’s at fault, and who requires compensation. The more you can collect, the clearer the image will be, so make sure you’re proactive in proving your side of the story.
