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After an accident, if you are able to, it is wise to take pictures of the automobiles involved and the accident scene. You can use a camera to collect evidence such as the license plate of other vehicles involved and the damage done to your vehicle and any damage done to other vehicles involved. You can also take pictures of the individuals involved in the accident to establish lack of injury or lack of visible injury, depending on the situation.
Preserving evidence after an auto accident can be helpful to your claim if your insurance is not cooperative or if another party attempts to sue you. Because many people now have a phone handy at all times due to the advent of cell phones, it has become increasingly easy to preserve evidence by taking photos after an accident has occurred.
While the moments after an accident can be difficult to manage, if you are not seriously injured or in need of medical attention taking pictures of the scene is just one of the ways in which you can preserve evidence which may be helpful in filing a claim for your damages.
You should also call the police. Some insurance companies may not require this of you, but it is a good idea to call the police before anyone leaves the scene of the accident. The police are skilled at filing accident reports and will do the research for you on your accident free of charge. They will take statements of parties to the accident as well as witnesses. The police will measure any necessary distances to help assess fault in your accident case. If needed, a police officer can assist you if you are in need of help after an accident. This can be important if your accident occurred in a busy location such as a freeway where it can be dangerous to get your vehicle back onto the road or onto a tow truck if it is not drivable.
If you need help with filing a claim or assessing a claim against you because of an auto accident, contact an attorney who can help you understand the law and the procedure in your case. While each case is unique, an attorney will apply the law to the facts and help you get an understanding of probable outcomes in your situation.