What Kind of Evidence Should I Collect After a Car Accident?

Maybe foggy conditions caused you to skid off the road. Maybe another driver failed to use their turn signal. Or perhaps you came across a swerving teenager who just got their license. In any case, you’ve just been in an accident and you’re feeling disoriented, dazed, and frustrated.

It’s important that no matter what led you to this point, you keep a cool demeanor. In order to build the best case for a car insurance claim or injury lawsuit, it’s imperative that you quickly gather as much evidence as possible about the crash, how it occurred, and who is liable.

Here are a few steps our best car accident lawyers in Queens say you should consider just after the accident transpires.

Claim A Free Consultation

  • Contact The Barnes Firm

    Fields marked with an * are required

Take Photographs of the Crash Scene

Thanks to modern mobile technology, it’s easier than ever to document the entire scene right after a crash. Photos can provide the court with the physical evidence needed to help prove your case, especially if your word contradicts the claims of the other driver.

After you’ve called the police and emergency medical services, use your smartphone to document the incident, as long as you’re physically fit to do so. If you’re too injured to walk, ask others for help, including passengers in your vehicle, bystanders, and the police. If worse comes to worst, you can always snap photos from inside your vehicle. You can never have enough evidence, so every photograph counts.

Claim A Free Consultation
What To Do After Car Accident

If you need help determining what you should document at the scene, follow these general guidelines:

  • Take photos at various angles. When detailing the scene, it’s important to record the entire This includes close-ups, overhead shots, and anything from a distance that would help showcase the entire landscape.
  • Snap pictures of the road and its surrounding landmarks. Skidmarks, traffic signs, stoplights, and other nearby markers can be vital in determining who is at fault.
  • Document different perspectives. If the driver said they didn’t see you coming from around the corner, take a picture from that street corner. If the witness said the other driver ran a red light, document where the witness was standing when they saw the incident occur.
  • Take photographs of the vehicles involved. One of the most important aspects of the crash that you’ll want to document is the harm sustained to both vehicles, from scratches and dents to bent frames and engine damage. Even if the accident is minor, it couldn’t hurt to be thorough.

Keep in mind that you can never have enough photos! You can always delete or remove the unnecessary pictures after everything is over, but you never know what your lawyer may find beneficial in helping you win the case, so always take more photos than you think you’ll need.

Find Witnesses to Help Prove Your Case

If there’s a disagreement in who was at fault—and there often is—the dispute can often boil down to your word versus theirs. In this scenario, your side of the case may be difficult to prove in a court of law without sufficient evidence. That’s why it’s so important that you find a third-party witness who can help testify on your behalf.

Finding a witness isn’t always easy, especially if you were injured in the accident. Right after the crash—and once you’ve contacted the police and emergency medical services—look for bystanders, onlookers, or anyone who may have seen the accident occur. If your witness is credible—someone who saw the full events of the crash, is an unbiased third-party, and is of sound mind—you’re in good shape. Exchange contact information with your witness. Ideally, you should then work with a top car accident attorney in Queens who has experience in sorting through evidence and questioning witnesses.

two men taking pictures of their cars after a car accident
two men taking pictures of their cars after a car accident

Find Witnesses to Help Prove Your Case

If there’s a disagreement in who was at fault—and there often is—the dispute can often boil down to your word versus theirs. In this scenario, your side of the case may be difficult to prove in a court of law without sufficient evidence. That’s why it’s so important that you find a third-party witness who can help testify on your behalf.

Finding a witness isn’t always easy, especially if you were injured in the accident. Right after the crash—and once you’ve contacted the police and emergency medical services—look for bystanders, onlookers, or anyone who may have seen the accident occur. If your witness is credible—someone who saw the full events of the crash, is an unbiased third-party, and is of sound mind—you’re in good shape. Exchange contact information with your witness. Ideally, you should then work with a top car accident attorney in Queens who has experience in sorting through evidence and questioning witnesses.

Police woman reviewing files and documents

Gather Official Police Records to Help You Prove Your Case

When law enforcement arrives, they’ll write an official police report. Ask for a copy of this document—which is public record—and decide if it’s useful to help prove your case. The report contains the officer’s assessment of who was at fault, and despite not being conclusive evidence, it can certainly help sway the case in one direction or another.

Contact the Experienced Attorneys at The Barnes Firm

If you’ve been in a car accident and need help putting together a case against the at-fault party, contact the experienced lawyers at The Barnes Firm. We’re a group of skilled lawyers who have helped clients win their auto accident cases time and time again. We’ll work tirelessly to get you the compensation you deserve by launching an investigation into your case and the circumstances leading up to the crash.

To speak with one of our best car accident attorneys in Queens about your case, schedule your free consultation by completing an online contact form, or call us now!

The Barnes Firm (800)-800-0000

Claim A Free Consultation
en English
en Englishes Spanish