First Things First: Handling Car Wrecks

Law Blog

When you are involved in an accident, the time immediately following is extremely critical if you are to prove that you were wronged. While you may be understandably traumatized by the accident, ensuring that either you or a trusted family member or friend complete some important tasks could make the difference between getting a fair settlement offer from the at-fault driver's insurance carrier and just a token sum. You never know when the worst will happen and it pays to be prepared so read below to get more information about the steps to take after your accident that could help you prove your personal injury claim.

Gather Evidence

If you are able to do the following, it is in your best interest to do so. If not, at least ensure that you get someone to assist you in taking the following steps.

• Get contact information: you will need the names, addresses and phone numbers of other driver, as well the contact information from any eye witnesses.
• Insurance policy information for the other driver and the license plate number of the other car.
• Take photographs of the accident scene from many different angles, showing the damage to the vehicles. If an accident reconstruction is needed, this photographic evidence will prove to be invaluable. If your case comes to trial, there are few pieces of evidence more compelling than the sight of wrecked vehicles at the scene.
• Don't just ignore the broken parts of the vehicles at the scene, preserve them for the insurance adjuster or the accident reconstruction expert.
• Have someone take photos of your injuries as soon as possible.
• Observe the presence of any video cameras in the area, such as traffic cameras at the intersection or at nearby businesses or residences.

The Accident Report

If your accident was responded to by law enforcement personnel, you can probably expect that an accident report will be filed by the officer. When you are interviewed by the officers, make sure that you state why the other driver is at fault, such as "the other driver ran the red light". Be sure to report other suspicions as well, such as the smell of alcohol on the other driver. These reports often contain the responding officer's opinion of the cause of the accident and the contact information for all parties, making it an important document for evidentiary purposes. Make sure that you follow up and procure your own copy of the accident report.

Talk to a personal injury attorney for more information.

13 January 2017