Preserve Evidence from Your Accident to Make Sure Your Claim Is Supported
After an accident, it is understandable to be angry and confused. It is often a devastating time and one that often involves intensive medical treatment. It can be unclear what else you should do to protect yourself and your claim.
The hours and days after an accident, however, are an important time in which evidence of your claims is fresh and must be preserved to make sure your claim can be fully supported. The more time passes the more likely it is that critical evidence will go missing or be discarded or critical witnesses will be difficult to locate. It is essential that you act quickly to make sure those things do not happen.
Retaining an attorney as early as possible is an important first step in ensuring that someone with knowledge of evidence preservation is working on your side. However, there are things you can do to assist your attorney and your case:
- Take pictures and video – Document the accident site and any products, equipment or vehicles that were involved in the accident as close to the time of the accident as possible. If you are in a motor vehicle accident, taking pictures of the cars in their final resting positions on the roadway can be helpful in showing who was at fault. Also, taking pictures of your injuries is informative in documenting the full impact of the accident. Consider taking pictures of injuries not only at the time of the accident but also as you recover.
- Talk to witnesses – Getting names and contact information of witnesses to the incident will add third-party support to your claim and give your attorney a great place to start investigating.
- Keep all physical evidence – Whether it’s the accident vehicle, the product that caused the accident or anything else that is related to the cause of your injury, it is of the utmost importance that you keep any evidence in your possession and do not discard it unless your attorney approves. This kind of physical evidence can be what makes or breaks your case.
If you or a loved one has suffered from an accident, contact our team of trial attorneys. They will not only be able to make sure everything is done to preserve necessary evidence, but also investigate the accident and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.