How To Document Evidence At The Scene Of A Car Accident In Florida

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In this article, you will discover:

Why evidence from a car accident scene is crucial to your Florida personal injury case.
The best forms of evidence to capture from a car accident scene.
What you should avoid doing or saying at a car accident scene to protect your case.

Why Is Evidence From The Accident Scene Important To My Personal Injury Case?

Evidence from the accident scene can be critical to your case. If possible, obtain photos of vehicle damage and the respective positions of the vehicles before leaving the scene of an accident. Once you leave or move the vehicles, it may be more difficult to obtain adequate documentation.

Without photographs, you can still prove your case with testimony. However, juries tend to favor photographic evidence and will often pay close attention to the photos in every case.

At some point after an accident, questions may arise about skid marks or the location of roadway marks left by car parts or other debris. Police reports will often only document these details if there was a serious bodily injury or death involved in the accident.

What Photos Should I Take After A Crash To Support My Claim?

If possible, take photos of your vehicle’s damage, the damage to the other person’s vehicle, any skid marks, marks in the roadway left by car parts, and any debris from the collision.

You should also consider taking general photos of the scene itself, including street signs and traffic control devices. You won’t know whether these photographs will be important until later.

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How Can Video Footage From My Phone Or Dash Cam Help My Case?

Video from your phone is a good idea for documenting the accident scene, particularly to show perspective. You can take still shots from the video as needed. However, nothing compares to dashcam video. Dashcam video does not lie, and when it is available, it is often the most compelling piece of evidence in a case.

Dashcam video can be priceless in some cases. If dashcams were standard in all vehicles, the cost of car insurance could be significantly reduced because you would have much more precise determinations of liability based on video rather than arguments that people make.

Why Are Witness Statements Important, And How Can I Collect Them?

Interviewing witnesses can be beneficial in your case. Many police officers will interview witnesses at the scene of an accident and list them on the police report.

Both sides to an accident can reach out to an independent witness to ask questions. While the witness is not required to give a statement without a subpoena, most are willing to talk about what happened.

What Should I Avoid Doing At The Scene To Protect My Legal Case?

You should avoid making statements that suggest you have already determined you are not injured. Police officers will often ask if you are injured.

If you have a serious injury, you should go to the emergency room right after leaving the scene. You may want to consider an ambulance to the hospital.

If you say that you are not injured and it is written into the police report, then the insurance company may be suspicious when you later claim an injury. On the other hand, if you say you are going to get checked out by a doctor later, you leave the door open for a claim should you need it.