Join our newsletter.

Documenting the Damage After an Auto Accident

Okay, the auto accident is over … now what?

If you’re like most people, you’ll want to get the car repaired as soon as possible. All you can think of is to get a tow truck and get the car to a repair shop.

Unfortunately, by doing only this, you will have denied an investigator the best chance of determining how the collision happened, how fast the cars were going, who was at fault, the direction of travel and liability.

Police don’t always document the scene well. Rarely do they take pictures. That falls on you. As soon as possible, take pictures of the cars while they’re still on the road. Take picture of the roadway, where gouge marks occurred, the length of skid marks, the specific damage to the cars, the insides of the cars, the condition of the occupants, and the location where the cars came to rest.

Film in this digital age is cheap, so take as many pictures from as many different angles as possible. You never know when one of the pictures will reveal something important to an investigator or accident reconstructionist.

It’s too late after the car has been handled by the tow truck operator or repaired at the shop. Investigators are not brought in until days or week later and by then the evidence will be gone. This is a vital process, particularly if you are planning to fight your case in court with the assistance of a Bucks County motor vehicle accident attorney.

Related News & Articles

You were injured in an auto accident. You hired an attorney for your case against the other driver for pain and suffering. Nothing more to do now, right? Wrong! There are...

When the music legend Aretha Franklin died this month, she left behind an amazing musical legacy and her estate. What she didn’t leave was a will, meaning her heirs are left...

There’s no “right” way for a divorce to proceed. Some couples handle things amicably. They have no trouble agreeing on how to divide their property and deciding on child custody. The...

Whether it’s Google or the corner grocery store, every business needs a lawyer. “Wait a second,” you might be saying. “I can see why Google would need a lawyer. Facebook, sure....

One of the most often asked questions in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is “what will happen to my property?” The answer depends on whether the property is “secured” or “unsecured.” Unsecured...

When Jim and Alice met during their first year in college they never would have thought the words “contested divorce” were anywhere in their future. They began dating at the end...

Most people only associate the word “investment” when they hear about financial planning. Financial planning is a whole lot more. Because people only associate the word “investment” with planning, they fail...

You’re 16 years old. You’ve just gotten your driver’s license. Signaling. Three-point turns. Parallel parking. You’ve proven yourself a master of Pennsylvania teen driving regulations. Then it comes time to borrow...

Earlier this year, Pennsylvania passed Act 39, the state’s new wine sale law, which allows alcohol to be sold in more places than in the past. Governor Tom Wolf called it...

Lately I have been seeing this question a lot. I subscribe to a number of sites that allow the general public to ask legal questions. It seems that a lot of...