Anyone who sustains an injury or property damage in a car accident caused by another driver in Georgia should be able to recover compensation for their losses. However, recovering compensation after a vehicle accident involves proving negligence. Here, we want to discuss what type of evidence needs to be gathered to support your car accident claim. This evidence will be used for your insurance claim or during a personal injury trial, if one becomes necessary.
Evidence From the Crash Scene
One of the best times to gather evidence to support your car accident claim is right after the crash occurs. The grim reality is that after a vehicle accident scene has been cleared away, this takes away a good chunk of the evidence that could help determine liability.
As we go through this list of evidence that can be gathered at the scene of a crash, we give it to you cautiously. It is crucial to understand that under no circumstances should you try to gather evidence if the scene is not safe. Additionally, if you require medical care, that takes priority over gathering any evidence. Make sure you are safe and make sure you receive medical treatment for any injuries.
Some of the evidence that can be gathered at the scene includes photographs. If you have a cell phone or another type of camera, you can use that to take photos of everything you see that could be relevant. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Damage to vehicles
- Debris around the scene
- Skidmarks
- Traffic and weather conditions
- Injuries
- License plate numbers
If you see any individuals who may have witnessed the crash, we encourage you to get their names and contact information as soon as possible. Eyewitnesses can provide valuable testimony to insurance carriers or during a personal injury trial, if one becomes necessary.
Finally, you need to ensure that the police come to the scene and that you find out how to obtain a copy of the police report from the responding law enforcement officer. You may not be able to get the accident report for a few days, but you need to know how to get it so it can get to your insurance carrier.
Evidence Gathered Afterwards
You may not be able to gather all of the evidence necessary to prove liability at the scene of the crash. In the days and weeks that followed the incident, there may be a more extensive investigation, particularly for severe vehicle accidents.
One type of evidence that you may need the assistance of an attorney to gather is video surveillance. It is not uncommon for cameras on nearby homes or businesses to capture footage of a vehicle crash. Surveillance footage can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to determining liability. However, property owners or homeowners do not have to turn over this information if they choose not to. When you involve an attorney, they may be able to speak to these individuals on your behalf to obtain the footage and help your case.
Other types of evidence that may need to be gathered after the crash occurs includes mobile device data if distracted driving is suspected as well as vehicle “black box” data that can possibly show the driver’s actions right before the crash occurred.
All of the evidence gathered will be thoroughly examined and used to paint a picture of what happened. It is crucial for individuals to recover compensation if their crash was caused by the actions of other drivers, and the evidence is the key to securing this compensation. If you’ve been involved in a car accident, contact the attorneys at Kam, Ebersbach & Lewis, P.C.