Tips to Collect Evidence After a Car Accident

Car accidents happen in the blink of an eye but leave a lasting impact on those involved. In 2021, 39,508 motor vehicle crashes occurred in the United States. An overwhelming 42,939 people died in these accidents. 

Of all the 50 states, Texas ranks first with 4,498 car accident deaths. California is another state where car accident fatalities cross 4,000. 

Despite Missouri holding the 14th rank for fatal car crashes with 1,016 deaths, St. Louis drivers are regarded as the worst in the United States. For every 100,000 residents, St. Louis witnessed 24 vehicular mortalities in 2021. 

Injuries sustained in car crashes often take a hit on your finances. While you can recover damages by filing a claim, the evidence collected will determine if you’ll win the case. 

That said, here are some tips to help you collect crucial evidence after a car accident:

#1 Take Pictures and Videos

Photographs and videos serve as invaluable evidence. That is why the first thing to do at an accident scene is to capture pictures and record videos. Your visual evidence should document the following:

• Damage done to your vehicle
• Damage done to other vehicles on the road
• Road conditions
• Vehicle debris
• Vehicle license plates
• Your injuries
• The exact location where the accident occurred from various distances and angles 

If there are any traffic signs or signals, take their picture, too. These pictures will prove that you had the right of way. Simultaneously, the fault of the other party will be proved. Taking close-up shots of the damage to your vehicle and injuries is good, but you should also capture wider shots. 

Record a few videos of your injuries and the damage done to your vehicle, like broken lights, dents, and scratches. If you’re badly injured, ask those present at the scene to do so. 

This visual evidence will prove the accident’s severity and help your lawyer prepare a strong case. 

#2 Preserve Dashcam Footage

Owing to the increasing number of accidents in the U.S., dashcams have become a must-have for every vehicle. While the restrictions vary from state to state, these cameras are legal in all 50 states of the U.S. 

In Alabama, suction dash cams are prohibited because it’s illegal to place anything on the windshield of vehicles. But in Missouri, there are no restrictions on dashcam placements. Especially if you live in St. Louis, which is ranked as the fourth most dangerous city to drive in, you should install dash cams in your vehicle. 

We say so because dash cams record everything in front of the vehicle. That means it will record the entire accident, including how it unfolded. 

As dashcam footage is acceptable in Missouri courts, you can share the dashcam footage with your St. Louis car accident lawyer. As such, your lawyer can prove whether it was aggressive driving, distracted driving, or a hit-and-run case in a court of law. 

However, you can use dashcam footage only if you preserve them. Note that many dashcams delete old footage after a certain period of time. You will have to save them and take backup in order to use them as evidence in your case. 

Preserving dashcam footage is easy. Detach the dashcam from the windshield, connect it to a laptop or computer using a USB-C cable, and look for a new USB drive. Click on that, and browse the video saved on the dashcam. Then, copy it from the SD card to your computer and share it with your lawyer. 

In St. Louis, the leading cause of serious injuries is run-off-road collisions, reports TorHoerman Law. If you get involved in such a case, your lawyer can use the footage to prove you weren’t at fault. 

#3 Obtain Witnesses Statements and Contact Information

Unless you drive in the wee hours, people around you will be eyewitnesses to the accident. You can obtain a lot of information from witnesses by talking to them after the accident. Cyclists, pedestrians, passengers, and drivers of other vehicles can serve as witnesses. 

If nearby businesses or homes have cameras installed, ask them for the accident footage. 

Witness statements serve as a critical piece of evidence in proving that the accident occurred due to the other party’s negligence. As witnesses can better recollect what happened at the crash scene, your St. Louis car accident lawyer will better be able to assert the other driver’s fault. 

Besides, take down their contact information, which includes their phone number and email address. Having these details handy will make it easy for you to contact them if need be. 

Wrapping Up

Gathering evidence after a car accident could be tiresome and time-intensive labor. But it’s important. The small pieces of evidence that you gather will help your lawyer build a strong case. Therefore, proving your innocence and others’ negligence won’t be difficult. 

Other than pictures, videos, and witness statements, medical records, and police reports are a necessity. With such evidence at your disposal, rest assured that you will win fair compensation.