If you have been involved in an automobile accident, one of the best ways to protect yourself and your rights is through evidence you gather up as soon as you can. With evidence, you are securing a part of history that may prove that you were not the one at fault.
Personal injury and property damage is the two things that you would be protecting when you gather up evidence of an accident. As per Personal Injury Lawyer in Mississauga, here are a few types of evidence that you may consider if you are ever involved in an accident.
Photographs of the Accident Scene
You can’t argue about what you see in a photograph. These photos will take a picture of things at the scene that may not be noticeable once the vehicle scene has been cleared. Most people have a cell phone on them these days and this makes it easier than ever to take photos that can be used as evidence later.
When you take photos of an accident scene, you will want to take them from all directions. Walk around as long as it is safe to capture the scene in every direction.
Take a few close ups of the scene. Take close ups of property damage, vehicle damage, injuries, and anything else you think would be important. Walk back away from the scene and take pictures from a distance. This helps capture more in the immediate surroundings that would give the scene a different look.
If there are skid marks, you will want to take pictures of them from the beginning to the end. These are best shot from a distance so you can show how far they skidded before making contacting and eventually stopping.
If there are any traffic control devices such as traffic lights, yield signs, or stop signs, get a picture of them as well.
When taking pictures of the vehicles involved, be sure to get the license plate number and any damage done on each vehicle. If a windshield or side glass is busted out, you will want to get a picture of this too.
Exchanging Information at the Scene
It’s imperative that you exchange information with the other driver when you are at the scene of an accident. This will give you contact information if you have any questions once you have a moment to process what just happened.
If you are involved in a hit-and-run accident, don’t chase the other driver down. Stay on scene and call law enforcement. Get a good description of the vehicle if possible so you can alert law enforcement of what the vehicle looked like.
Witnesses are very important in case of an accident, especially if a driver leaves the scene. You will want to get the names and contact numbers of anyone who seen the accident or seen the other driver leaving the scene of the accident.
Police Reports and Other Official Reports
If law enforcement comes to the scene, they will prepare a report that is official. You will have the right to go to the police station and grab a copy of the police report for your records. In many states, this report will list the officers take on what happened and who may be at fault. While the officer didn’t witness the accident, they can form a conclusion based on the information they get from the scene.
