Gathering Evidence

Documenting damages in a car accident is a good way to begin gathering evidence. This is something that you can do right after the accident happens. The sooner you photograph damages, the better. You should take photographs of the damages to your property as well as those to your person. Here, I will discuss some techniques for documenting damages through photographs.

Documenting Damage To Property

As soon as a car accident happens, you should document the damage. Photographs of the scene of the accident can prove liability and reduce uncertainty about who is responsible. They can serve as concrete evidence of what happened.

At the scene of the accident, you can start taking pictures. Documenting the damage to your vehicle is important. But, there are other things that you can document. Take pictures of:

• The other person’s vehicle.
• Any damaged property, such as trees, telephone poles, mail boxes, etc.
• The street itself, including skid marks, broken glass, etc. Any other cars or property involved in the accident.
• The weather conditions, especially if the roads are icy or muddy.
• Traffic indicators such as stop lights or stop signs.

These photographs will paint a picture of the scene. They will help both parties interpret what happened. They can also be useful if the case goes to trial.

Try to take photographs of the accident as soon as possible. Once the police arrive, they will want to clear the roads. They will start moving property and cars. Taking pictures before this happens is best for your records.

Documenting Damage To Yourself

If you got injured in the accident, you should photograph your injuries as soon as possible. Immediately after the accident, take pictures of:

• Bruises.
• Scratches and scrapes.
• Body parts that started swelling.
• Any part of your body that does not feel right.

Then, you should go to a hospital to get your injuries check out.

Continue to monitor your injuries. Periodically take pictures of them to see how they progress. For example, it might take a day for a bruise to show up. Also monitor swelling and other serious issues over the course of the next few days and weeks.

Getting Help

If you would like to file a personal injury lawsuit as a result of a car accident, one of the first steps is gathering evidence at the scene. Then it is a good idea to contact an attorney. We are happy to help with your situation, just contact our office for more information.