How to Collect Evidence After a Car Crash

By Jason Bottlinger on January 24, 2022

No matter how diligently you drive, there is always the risk of a motor vehicle collision on the roadways today. In 2020, there were 217 fatal crashes and 9,847 injury crashes in Nebraska, as reported by the state Department of Transportation (DOT). If you are involved in a collision despite all your best efforts, the more evidence you are able to collect at the scene and afterwards, the better your chances will be of recovering full compensation for your injuries. Pictures and witness statements will help your personal injury attorney in negotiating a settlement with the insurance company, or serve as invaluable evidence in court.

Note Your Recollections of the Collision In Writing As Soon As Possible

• As soon as you are able, take the time to write down the date, time, and location of the car crash. This could be helpful later if you need to obtain access to security or traffic camera footage for evidence in your case.
• Make notes of weather conditions or any hazards that may have contributed to the collision.
• Write down what happened – how the crash occurred. Without admitting fault, record an accurate description of the events that led up to the wreck. This will enable you to clearly report exactly what occurred in the future.

Collect Witness Contact Information and Statements

Talk with other people at the scene of the crash. Get names, phone numbers, and insurance information for the other drivers involved. If they will allow it, use your phone to take pictures of their driver’s licenses and insurance cards for easy access later. Speak with anyone on the scene who witnessed the crash, get contact information, and ask for witness statements.

Take Pictures of Everything Relevant to the Case

Pictures can preserve important evidence in a traffic crash case. They can give you and your lawyer an advantage in dealing with insurance adjusters or in a civil lawsuit. Photos can show the relative positions of the vehicles, the collision points, the road and weather conditions, skid marks, crash debris, and other relevant details, and help boost your memory of what happened at a later date.

If you are physically able after the collision, use your phone to take pictures of the accident scene.

• Take an abundance of photos from different distances and angles.
• Try to keep a common landmark for distance and scale in all pictures of the vehicles and surrounding area.
• Get photos of the damage your vehicle sustained and the damage to the other vehicles involved.
• Take pictures that show the accident site, location of stop signs and traffic signals, environmental and weather conditions, and any skid marks or crash debris in the road.
• Photograph any visible injuries to you and your passengers. If other parties consent, get pictures of their bodily injuries, as well.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Before Talking to Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are in business for profit. The goal of their representatives is to minimize their payout or deny your claim entirely. They might make a lowball offer in an effort to settle your claim quickly. It is in your best interests to consult with an experienced Omaha personal injury attorney before you speak with insurance adjusters or accept any settlement offer.

At Bottlinger Law L.L.C., we can investigate your collision to determine fault and liability, secure evidence to support your case, assess the full extent of your damages, and effectively pursue the compensation you deserve after a car crash caused by someone else’s negligence. Call us at (402) 505-8234 to schedule a free consultation. We can tell you if you have a case and what damages you may be entitled to claim.