Accidents are unpredictable and often leave victims dealing with health and financial challenges. For accident survivors, securing fair compensation is often important when it comes to covering medical expenses, lost wages and other damages.
However, insurance companies and opposing parties often scrutinize claims closely. For this reason, it’s crucial to assemble compelling evidence at the accident scene to support a personal injury case. Properly documenting the accident scene can help ensure a successful insurance settlement and/or personal injury claim down the road.
Prioritize safety first
Before focusing on evidence, accident survivors should try to ensure the safety of everyone involved. If the accident is severe, calling emergency services is critical. If it is safe to do so, accident survivors should move to a secure location while keeping the scene intact as much as possible.
Call law enforcement
Once out of harm’s way, accident survivors should reach out to law enforcement and follow up on the official accident report. Involving law enforcement officers will help ensure there’s an official documentation of the incident.
The police report will have statements from witnesses who were at the accident scene and provide an unbiased assessment of the scene. Accident survivors should remember to request a copy of the police report, as it can be crucial in supporting their personal injury claim. These official documents carry significant weight in insurance claims and legal proceedings.
Take clear photographic and video evidence
Photographic and video evidence are among the most compelling types of evidence in a personal injury claim. Accident survivors can leverage their smartphones or cameras to capture the layout of the accident scene immediately after the crash. The placement of skid marks and damage on their vehicle can help prove which driver was responsible for the accident. Some other elements that can point to what caused the collision include:
- The road conditions at the accident scene
- Traffic signs and signals when the collision occurred
- Any injuries the accident survivor sustained
Aside from capturing the accident scene, accident survivors should remember to note down the license plate of the other party’s vehicle.
Accident survivors should capture evidence at the accident scene to boost their odds of securing fair compensation. With sufficient documentation, their legal team can work to use this compelling proof to hold the at-fault party accountable for the collision at issue.
