Steps to Take at the Scene To Help Your Car Accident Attorney
If you’re involved in a car or motorcycle accident, there are several steps you’ll want to take in order to help your Denver car accident lawyer build the strongest case possible for you. First of all, make sure that you get information from all the people that are at the scene of the accident. This doesn’t just mean the other driver with whom you were involved in an accident. You’ll also want to get the name and badge number of the officer on the scene as well as contact info for any witnesses. You should also ask the police officer where and when you will be able to get your own copy of the report if they do not volunteer this information to you.
As soon as you get a moment, write down all the details of the accident. As you get further away from the incident, you’re likely to forget bits and pieces of it and these small bits a pieces are the kinds of things that will make a difference in court. When you have it written down fresh, you’re getting a more accurate account of the event. Be sure to mention things like the day of the week, the date, the time, the weather conditions, where your vehicle was facing/traveling, and so on. Anything that might have contributed to the accident could be worth jotting down.
In addition to writing down the details of the accident, consider drawing a diagram. This will help your Denver injury lawyer understand precisely what occurred. Use arrows and simple shapes to draw the diagram. The purpose isn’t artistic but informational. Simple blocks for the vehicles that label each one will suffice - there is no need for creativity here. Make sure you also make a note of things like stop signs, traffic lights, and other road factors that played a role in the case. An accurate diagram will help your car or motorcycle accident attorney understand the details as well as you. This will give him the ability to accurately assess the case and recommend the best course of action.
When drawing the diagram, it’s a good idea to have three total examples. You’ll want to draw the location of vehicles before the accident, during the accident and after the accident. If the accident resulted in skid marks on the road, make a note of where they were located and in which direction they went. If you have access to a camera, take a picture of the skid marks as well as the cars involved in the accident. On a side note, nearly every Denver car accident attorney recommends keeping a disposable camera in your car for these types of situations. Disposable cameras are cheap and easily fit in to a glove box or under a seat, but will be invaluable if and when you need one.
Finally, at the scene of the accident, do not admit fault or offer to pay for damages that the other party experienced. You may think you are at fault but be sure you speak with a car accident lawyer before admitting that you’re at fault. The other driver may be thinking the exact same thing (the accident was their fault), so do not expose yourself to blame until the case is investigated. If there was drugs or alcohol involved, you may also need to speak with a Colorado DUI attorney. Now, if a police officer gives you a ticket, you need to sign it. Failing to do so can land you in jail, something you, no doubt, don’t want. Signing the document does not mean you are guilty; it just means you’re going to pay the fine or contest the ticket in a court of law.