Car Accident Evidence: What To Collect and Why It Matters

Does this scenario sound familiar? You were in a car accident, and you know it was the other driver’s fault.

However, when it comes time to talk to the driver at the scene and exchange insurance information, he insists you are the one to blame.

How do you prove that the car crash was their fault and not yours? This is where car accident evidence comes in. Things like accident scene documentation and vehicle collision records can potentially show that you are not at fault for what happened.

Call The Voorhies Law Firm, an experienced auto accident attorney in New Orleans, to help gather the necessary evidence to build your case.

The Purpose of Collecting Car Accident Evidence

Generally speaking, the more auto collision evidence you can collect, the better. Insurance companies and courts will examine the available evidence to determine two key things:

Who is at fault for the accident, including whether and how blame should be shared between the parties
The dollar amount of the damages to be awarded to the injured party

Because the insurance company, judge, or jury was not present at the scene of the crash, the only method they have of determining fault and valuing damages is going to be based on the evidence that’s presented to them. Without evidence, the entire argument comes down to a “he said, she said” type of scenario, and it would be impossible to accurately assign blame.

The following list includes the evidence you and your attorney can gather to help prove your case.

Physical Evidence

Physical evidence can be gathered at the car wreck scene and after the fact. This category of evidence includes anything that can physically demonstrate what happened as well as how the accident has impacted your life.

Examples of physical evidence include:

Photos and videos taken at the scene, including damage to vehicles, injuries, and road conditions
Debris from the vehicles
Actual vehicle damage, including external and structural damage
Reports of road and weather conditions
Skid marks and tire tracks
Physical evidence at the scene, such as a dented guardrail
“Black box” data and other vehicle safety information or records
Cell phone records

Your attorney or their investigators will piece together this evidence to reconstruct what happened and paint the accident in an accurate light.

Witness Statements

In addition to physical evidence, another form of car crash proof you should collect is witness statements. Witnesses can include the following types of people:

Bystanders or other drivers on the road who observed the crash
The other party or parties involved in the crash
Medical doctors who have diagnosed and treated your conditions
Expert witnesses who review forensic and medical evidence to provide additional information to insurance companies and juries

If you are physically able, you should get the contact information from the other driver(s) and any witnesses so that your insurance company or attorney can follow up with those people to check the consistency of their stories, ask follow-up questions, and gather additional evidence on your behalf.

Police Report

There is likely going to be a police report taken by the officer at the scene, especially if there are significant damages or any injuries. Police reports are compelling supporting documents for car wreck cases because they carry a high degree of credibility. The report will also contain important details about the incident, including their own personal assessment of the circumstances.

Police officers have a duty to report their observations objectively, and they tend to have a lot of experience documenting evidence for car accident cases.

Contact an Experienced New Orleans Car Accident Attorney

Collecting car accident evidence is vital for protecting your rights in car accidents. Our experienced team of personal injury attorneys has helped clients recover financially from car accidents caused by someone else’s negligence. To discuss your case, call The Voorhies Law Firm at (504) 313-3102 for a free case evaluation.

What Our Customers Are Saying...

"I only had a consultation, but they were extremely helpful. He provided me with some steps I could do on my own prior to hiring an attorney, and provided a realistic expectation of what to expect if I chose to pursue litigation."

Baily J.
"I was involved in a serious injury crash almost four years ago. I called the Voorhies Law Firm. Ms Jennifer Rust returned my call the same day and scheduled a meeting. The Voorhies Law Firm is definitely second to none and a " cut above". Ms. Rust..."

Ritchie S.
"BEST law firm in downtown of New Orleans. They handled my personal injury claim and did a fantastic job!! Kudos to Jennifer Rust, one of their attorneys there who helped me out so much!! I highly recommend this law firm if you are looking for a law..."

Linda F.
"They did an "excellent" job representing my elderly father. Client- Focused, Competent, Consistent and Relentless! I would highly recommend!"

R Jack
"Having first tried one of the major firms you see on billboards and TV after my accident, I quickly got the feeling as if I became just a number. It seemed like compensating themselves was a higher priority than my wellbeing after my accident. I..."

Reyna M.