4 Types of Evidence You Should Collect After a California Car Accident

The state of California offers visitors and locals many things to do and see. For those who love road trips, there are many scenic routes along the coast of the Pacific Ocean and through the Sierra Nevada mountains. Though these highways make for many Instagram-worthy moments, they can also be dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 7.2 million car accidents reported to police in 2016 throughout the United States, with more than two million of those accidents resulting in some sort of bodily injury.

Car accidents can be devastating, and serious injuries can happen as a result of the negligence of others. Evidence will be your best friend when it comes to proving fault in a California car accident. Here are four types of evidence that you should collect:

Some of your most important pieces of evidence are going to be photographs that show the extent of damage that the accident caused. If you have visible injuries, you should take photos of them as soon as possible and document your healing progress. You should also take photos of any damage that may have occurred to your vehicle, the other person’s vehicle, any road conditions that could have contributed to the accident, and the scene as a whole.

A police report will also be a crucial piece of evidence in your case. When police arrive at the scene of an accident, they will help anyone in need of medical attention and then begin writing an accident report, which will contain official information about the accident. Information in a police report will include what happened before, during, and after the accident, any damages and/or injuries that occurred because of the accident, and any witness information.

Another piece of evidence that could help your case is witness testimonies of what happened during the accident. Police reports will contain some of this information, but it is a good idea to collect witness testimonies on your own. You should get the witnesses’ names, contact information, and statements about what they saw happen.

If you are seeking compensation for injuries that you sustained after a car accident, you will need documentation from a physician about those injuries. Keep any and all records that your doctor gives you, including visit summaries, test orders, prescriptions, and other documents. It can also help to keep a journal about your medical recovery process and how much pain you are in on a day to day basis.

Not only can car accidents cause emotional stress, but they can also result in catastrophic injuries that leave you with expensive medical bills and lost wages. If you have been in a motor vehicle collision, you should immediately contact a skilled Monterey, CA car accident injury attorney. Corsiglia McMahon & Allard, L.L.P. can help you prove the negligence of the other driver and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call our office at 408-298-7200 to schedule a free consultation.

• Preserving Evidence in an Auto Accident
• Summary of Motor Vehicle Crashes