Important Steps to Follow After an Auto Accident

It’s no secret that smartphones can have a plethora of negative effects on your health and safety, especially while on the road. Distracted driving claims about 8 lives per day in the US, on average. However, there are some definite advantages to having your phone handy in case you’re in an accident. 

Smartphones and their ever-improving camera capabilities can be of immense importance after you’ve been involved in an auto accident, especially if the other party is at fault. Photo evidence can be a crucial factor for determining insurance liability as well as any potential legal action. 

Here is a checklist of pictures to take at the scene of the accident:

• Entire scene: Get a wide view. Take a few steps back and try to capture the entire scope of the accident, including nearby landmarks, street signs, etc. This will help immensely in understanding the context of the crash. For example, the severity of an accident and any potential legal action may vary depending on if it took place in a busy intersection, the freeway, a residential area, etc.
• Which vehicle(s) were damaged and the impact on the vehicle(s): One of the most important aspects of sorting out the details of a crash is to photograph which vehicles were damaged and how severely. Detailed pictures of your vehicle and the others involved in the accident can do wonders to cut through unwanted hearsay and speculation. The impact of the damage is an essential part of legal action– whether the vehicle is salvageable or not, be sure to document it.
• Anything inside the vehicle: If any of your personal belongings were affected by the crash or were thrown from the car, be sure to document that as well. This could be a purse or bag, any pets or electronic devices that may have spilled out, or anything else of value. This is important for recovering personal property damages.
• How the vehicles are positioned: This ties into the shot of the entire scene, but it’s important to emphasize the positioning of the vehicles after the crash to negate any potential discrepancies. For instance, if you were struck by someone going the wrong direction in a one-way street, or if the at-fault party claims it was a head-on collision when really it was a perfect T-bone, photos of the vehicles and their positioning would help tremendously. It can also help emphasize the severity of a crash if the vehicles were hurled a long way from the road. 

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The photos you take at the scene of an accident can play a critical role in any legal action you may choose to take, but make sure to be responsible in your actions and not do anything brash that may adversely affect your case– as tempting as it may be to jump to social media in the moment, most of the time social media posts do nothing to help your argument. If you’d like more information regarding this, be sure to check out our guide to the do’s and dont’s of social media. 

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and wishes to take legal action, be sure to: 1) gather all the materials you can, including photos mentioned above, police reports, and insurance claims, 2) consult with a medical professional regarding any injuries, and 3) contact the experienced attorneys at Van Law Firm. 

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Call us today at (725) 900-9000 for a free consultation with our knowledgeable Personal Injury lawyers. We’ll discuss the parameters of your case and the various kinds of compensation you may be eligible to receive, including property damages, medical reimbursement, and lost wages. Don’t wait– contact us today to get started on the path toward the compensation you deserve.