The Importance of Preserving Evidence After a Car Accident

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The Importance of Preserving Evidence After a Car Accident

Jun 4, 2021

When a car accident occurs, the last thing you’re likely thinking about is what evidence can I gather to help prove my case? But when you’re injured as a result of that car accident, evidence can be the most important aspect of proving a future personal injury claim.

While we’ve already covered the Top 10 steps to take following a car accident (the first and most important of which is to seek immediate medical attention for any injury), let’s review what and how evidence should be gathered, and also take a look at the unique advantages offered by Dordulian Law Group.

What Evidence Should be Gathered at the Scene of a Car Accident?

When seeking to recover compensation for personal injuries or property damage, evidence can help prove your case and lead to a higher damages award. After a car accident, if you aren’t too injured to do so, using your phone to take photos and videos of the crash scene and surrounding areas can procure valuable evidence.

If possible, attempt to gather photos/videos of the following:

  • Any vehicles involved in the accident (regardless of the percentage of fault)
  • All property damage to your vehicle, other vehicles, physical property, your belongings, etc.
  • Any visible guardrails or medians
  • Any visible debris and broken glass
  • Any skid marks, potholes, or other road defects
  • The extent/volume of the traffic at the time of the accident
  • The surrounding areas (stoplights, street signs, etc.)
  • Any visible personal injuries (major or minor)

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If you’re able, take pictures and videos of the individual who you believe caused the accident. If the driver is impaired, this can help in proving fault. Of course, be careful to not be too conspicuous, as people can be sensitive about being photographed or videotaped without permission.

Additionally, taking witness statements (both drivers and pedestrians) by video and also making sure to record written notes can be important. California is a comparative fault state, which means that unless one driver is 100% at fault, a portion of the responsibility is assigned to the complainant and defendant in a personal injury case. If a driver was impaired, that most likely constitutes 100% fault, and having witness statements and videos of that individual can ensure your case is unassailable.

What Records or Reports Should I Obtain After a Car Accident?

What Records or Reports Should I Obtain After a Car Accident?

If an injury occurred, someone should have called 911, which would have dispatched first responders to the scene. Accordingly, there will be a police and EMT report of the accident. Getting a copy of both of those can be very helpful. If you’re unable to receive a report at the scene, your experienced Dordulian Law Group (DLG) car accident attorneys will be able to contact the appropriate parties and gather copies of those reports.

Medical records are also very important in personal injury car accident claims. That’s why the first step after a car accident is always to receive a thorough medical examination by a doctor. After a car accident, the trip to the hospital or doctor establishes a record that can help us prove that you were injured on that date as a result of that accident. Both of those elements are key when proving a personal injury lawsuit – that the injury occurred on the specified date, and that the accident caused the injury.

Any and all medical records that were generated as a result of your car accident injury should be collected and turned over to your DLG attorney as soon as possible. We will fight to ensure you receive the absolute best medical care and that your expenses are covered under your claim.

Two other types of records that may be helpful in your car accident case include vehicle maintenance records (of your vehicle and the at-fault driver’s vehicle) and, if applicable, any work records detailing your inability to appear at the workplace due to the resulting injuries. Additionally, records detailing your lost wages after the accident will allow us to add those as a damages line item within the personal injury claim.

DLG’s Investigative and Evidence Gathering Advantage for Car Accident Victims

DLG is the premier car accident law firm in California due to the unique advantages we offer our clients. One of those advantages includes having a former LAPD Central Traffic Division detective lead your investigation. With DLG, every car accident case is thoroughly investigated by our Chief Investigator, Detective Moses Castillo. Castillo ensures every piece of evidence that may help prove your case and increase your ultimate financial compensation will be recovered.

In car accident lawsuits, the slightest piece of evidence can be the difference between a $10,000 settlement and a multi-million dollar settlement. We know how important the evidence gathering process is, which is why we employ an in-house investigator to handle the process professionally and discreetly. With DLG, car accident victims never have to worry that they might miss out on a major settlement due to a missing piece of key evidence. We utilize the experienced professionals needed to recover all the evidence that will help prove your case.

If you experienced a car accident injury, don’t wait to file a claim. Contact our expert attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.

DLG’s Trial Preparation and Insurance Industry Insider Advantages

When you bring your car accident claim to DLG, your case is automatically prepared for trial, rather than placed in consideration for a quick (and often lowball) settlement offer from an insurance company. DLG’s Founder and President, Sam Dordulian, previously worked as a Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. In that role, Dordulian accrued over 100 jury trial victories. With that level of experience, we are able to prepare every case for trial (unlike “mega firms” that are merely settlement mills) and ensure you recover the maximum financial damages award you deserve for all losses related to your injuries – medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, emotional trauma, etc.

With other mega firms, your case may be settled quickly with an insurance company for a much lower figure than you truly deserve. That can leave you reeling with exorbitant medical bills and lost wages months and even years after your car accident. With DLG, you can rest easy knowing that we won’t rest until we’ve recovered a maximum damages award that ensures you are able to make a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.

And with two of DLG’s Car Accident Division attorneys having previously served as defense counsel for major auto insurance corporations, you know that when you bring your car accident claim to us, we’ll never be taken by one of those company’s underhanded tactics or dirty tricks. We effectively counter every move the insurance companies make because we have the first-hand experience needed. While they used to be on the side of the auto insurance companies, Arpineh Yeremian and Paulina Jaafar are now on DLG’s side, fighting for our injured clients and protecting them from the corporations and their high-powered legal teams.

DLG is the best choice for a car accident lawyer in California because we get results. With a 98% success rate and history of recovering over $200 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients, it’s easy to see why our satisfied clients leave such rave reviews. And with DLG, our No Win/No Fee Guarantee means you never pay a dime until we recover maximum financial compensation for you.

Contact us today online of by phone at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to learn more about what it means to get the DLG Advantage. Our consultations are always free and there’s never any obligation.

Author

Samuel Dordulian

Samuel Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years' experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.




Go See Sam