To ensure you have a solid personal injury claim, collecting evidence after a car crash is very important. Of course, if you are seriously injured, you should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Yet, if you are physically able to, documenting the accident scene will greatly increase your chances of recovering full compensation. Contact our office today to learn more and discuss the details of your case further.
Collecting Evidence After a Car Crash | Receive Medical Treatment
What you should not do is take off and leave the scene for any reason, especially if you or the other driver has been seriously hurt. After making sure you are a safe distance from any hazards including oncoming traffic or potential vehicle fires, getting medical professionals on the scene should be your first priority. If the other driver or drivers are hurt and cannot get themselves in a safe area, help them as best you can so long as they are not too severely injured. You could potentially injure them further if you try to move them and they are badly hurt. It is best to wait for emergency response teams to do this safely and professionally.
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Collecting Evidence After a Car Crash | Witnesses and Bystanders
You can then make the calls to 911 if you haven’t already and wait for the Ventura police department, fire department, or ambulance to arrive. If you are trapped in your car or are too severely injured to call 911, ask someone close by to make the call on your behalf. It is important to have a bystander assist you during these first moments if you cannot do so yourself. If you do not have the opportunity to do so yourself because of debilitating injuries, ask a bystander to help you take photographic evidence of the scene. This can include pictures and videos of the cars, the road, any skid marks, as well as a video of the entirety of the scene. These should be as detailed as possible. Take as many pictures and videos as you can. This can be critical evidence.
If you do enlist the help of a bystander, be sure to get their name and information as it may be helpful to you later on. If there are witnesses, you should make sure you also get their information as well. Gather all the names and contact information of anyone who may be able to provide key information about the accident later on. All of this is extremely invaluable information that could make or break your case. When the police arrive, they will ask as usual for your name, license plate number, registration, and insurance information. If you are not badly hurt, gather this information for them when they do show up.
Collecting Evidence After a Car Crash | Contact an Attorney
Like most personal injury cases in California, you have a two-year statute of limitations to file a claim. This remains true for a car accident. However, it is best not to wait out those two years, especially if you are wondering whether you indeed have a case. Getting in contact with a Ventura car accident attorney after you have begun your road to recovery as soon as is a wise decision. At Murphy & Murphy Law Offices, we do not charge a penny to talk about your case. If you are experiencing pain following a car crash and want to know what your options are, do not hesitate to give us a call. Our team of car accident attorneys in Ventura, California are ready to take on your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
