| What
Information Should I Gather After the Accident?
Following an automobile accident, there is alot of information
which will need to be gathered before you file a claim, contact
an attorney or file suit. The earlier you begin to assemble
this information, the more likely it will be accurate and
complete.
The exact type of information will depend partly on the laws
of the state in which the accident occurred. Different states
have different laws regarding the type of damages an automobile
accident victim can collect. However, most states have laws
which are designed to place the victim in the same position
he would have been in had the accident not happened. This
has been referred to as making the victim "whole."
In most accidents, an investigating police officer is called
to the scene where he fills out a detailed preprinted accident
report form. This form contains much information about the
accident and the parties involved. Thus, a good starting point
in gathering information is to obtain the accident report.
Although the officer does not usually give the accident victims
a copy of the report at the scene, he will give them an item
number or reference number that the accident victim can take
to the police records department a few days later and obtain
a copy of the report.
You should also get a copy of your own automobile insurance
policy. Even if you are not at fault in an accident, your
own insurance company may have obligations to pay medical
expenses, property damage and even personal injury damages
if the other driver does not have insurance sufficient to
cover your damages.
Obtain copies of emergency room treatment records and any
office records from any physicians you may have seen after
the accident. You may even want to obtain your physician records
from before the accident to help prove that your injuries
were caused by the accident and not preexisting.
If your injuries have caused you to miss work or use vacation
or sick leave, you may want to copy your income tax returns
for the last three years, W-2 forms, and paycheck stubs. All
of these items will help you establish a wage loss.
Obtain copies of estimates to repair your vehicle's property
damage. If you get more than one estimate, be sure to get
copies of all estimates. Remember, with property damage, make
sure your repair shop is using new parts where necessary and
not simply estimating the cost of patch work or bondo on your
fenders.
Obtain names and addresses of any witnesses to the accident.
If possible, get statements from them about what they witnessed.
The names and addresses of all occupants and drivers involved
in the accident and their respective insurance information
is also important to obtain.
If possible, take pictures of your injuries, the damage to
your vehicle and even the accident scene. Such pictures could
be critical evidence to an expert accident reconstructionist
if it becomes necessary to litigate the claim at a later date.
Pictures of injuries can help others understand the degree
of pain and suffering your injuries caused to you.
Information can easily be lost, changed or destroyed over
time. The sooner you gather the information, the more likely
it is to be accurate and complete. Even if you do not think
you will file a claim, it is easier to gather the information
early and discard it later than it is to recreate information
which was not obtained at the beginning.
The Cochran Firm - Dallas, L.L.P.
Turtle Creek Centre, Suite 1400
3811 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Dallas, Texas
75219
phone:
214.651.4260
| fax: 214.651.4261
Edward H. Moore is Board Certified, Personal Injury Trial Law. Unless otherwise noted, not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
The statements and information provided on this web site are for the information of the recipient only. This site is not intended to provide legal advice and no attorney-client relationship should be deemed to arise from the receipt this page and its associated pages. |
Copyright © 2003 The Cochran Firm - Dallas, L.L.P.,
All Rights Reserved.
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