If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, there are certain measures at the accident scene that can be taken to gather evidence and other useful information to maximize recovery for any damages incurred as a result of the accident. Powell, Zero, Mundy can quickly and correctly evaluate and analyze all of this evidence and information to put parties in a position to recover all of the damages to which they are entitled.

Immediately following the accident, check to see if anyone is injured and there is any urgent need to contact emergency medical personnel. It is important to note that accident victims claiming to be uninjured may be suffering from an injury that has not yet fully manifested itself.

Too often, those involved in an accident want to refrain from calling law enforcement to the accident scene for a multitude of reasons. Yet, regardless of how minor the accident may seem, it is important to have the police document the accident and generate an accident report. A typical police report contains witness names and contact information; a record of road, weather, and traffic conditions; both drivers’ license numbers; a sketch of the accident scene; any violations of motor vehicle laws; and the citations given, if any, to any driver involved in the accident.

In 2016, almost everyone has the capability to record still and video footage of the accident scene, including any resulting property damage and street, weather, and traffic conditions. Record anything that is unusual. Some of those involved in the accident may be showing indications of impairment from possible alcohol or drug use. You can also use your phone to record your thoughts and observation about the accident at a time when the events are fresh in your memory. Authenticated evidence using photographs and video is hard to beat. It never hurts to make as many recorded and written notes as possible while collecting relevant information.

It is also advantageous to take photos and video footage of any evidence of personal injuries. Pay attention to taking quality, detailed photographs with sufficient available lighting. It is also a good idea to return to the scene of an accident to check for any subsequent remedial measures , i.e., physical changes to road or roadside conditions like the installation of new road signs. This is also an opportunity to take photographs of anything that may have been missed immediately following the accident.

Avoid volunteering any information at the accident scene or hospital that may be used against you later to wrongly establish legal responsibility for the accident. Don’t say too much beyond who was involved, when and where the accident took place, and what personal injuries and property damage occurred as a result of the accident.

Again, it is important to remember that just because you may not display immediate symptoms of injury like pain does not mean you are injury-free after an accident. Thus, it is always important to document any changes in your physical condition after an accident, especially any related to the head, chest, and spine. You may eventually lose time off from work because of some physical and mental injury. It is therefore important to keep track of lost wages and lost work time that result from your injuries, as well as similar losses that result from their treatment.