When you’re involved in a car accident, your first priority should always be to call law enforcement and seek medical treatment. If your condition permits, however, you can gather evidence for your insurance claim and any necessary investigation. Here are some of the types of evidence you can preserve to support your claim:
- Photographs and videos: Capture images and video of the accident scene from multiple angles. If possible, photograph the damage to vehicles, skid marks, road conditions and hazards, traffic signals and any visible injuries.
- Police report: Request a copy of the official police report. This provides a third-party account of the accident and may include witness statements.
- Medical records: Ask your healthcare providers for copies of medical records documenting your injuries, treatments and prognosis.
- Eyewitness information: If possible, ask for contact details and statements from anyone who observed the accident and is willing to describe what occurred.
- Receipts and other records: Keep copies of all your medical bills and receipts for prescriptions and healthcare-related expenses. If you miss work, maintain documentation of any income you lost as a result of the accident. This may include pay stubs, tax returns, employer statements and more. Finally, maintain records of repair bills or estimates.
- Correspondence: Save all texts, voicemails, emails and written communications related to the accident.
- Pain journal: If your injuries are severe, consider documenting your pain levels, prescriptions, physical therapy appointments and more in a handwritten journal.
If you work with an attorney, they may request additional evidence like security cam or dash cam footage, phone and text records and the services of expert witnesses when needed.
When you’re injured in a car accident, the skilled Manatee County, FL accident attorneys at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh can help. Call today to get started.