Make no mistake, finding your bearing following a car accident can be a daunting task. Between finding out if you and your passengers are fine to calling 911 to processing the fact that you have just been involved in an accident, it is easy to find yourself confused. If the accident in question was not your fault, then you may consider pursuing the negligent party for financial restitution for your damages.
However, to build a compelling case against the negligent party, you are going to need evidence. Here are important pieces of evidence that you need to preserve immediately following a car wreck (if you can):
Photos and videos of the accident scene
Both photographic and video evidence can play important roles in highlighting exactly what happened. Assuming you are able to take photos and short videos of the accident scene using your smartphone, be sure to take as many as you can from different spots. Some of the things you should pay attention to include:
- Any injuries you and your passengers may have sustained
- The extent of the damage to the vehicles
- The placements of the vehicles compared to each other and the road
- External conditions like road defects, traffic control devices and weather at the time of the accident.
Police report
Virginia law requires that the police be called to the scene if the accident results in a fatality, an injury or property damage. When the police visit the accident scene, they will carry out their investigation and file a report on whom they believe was responsible for the accident. A police report can go a long way in supporting your claim should the matter end in court. Be sure to obtain a copy of it.
A big part of filing a successful car accident claim is your ability to prove fault. Find out how you can safeguard your rights while pursuing a car accident lawsuit following an accident that is not your fault.