Immediately after a car crash occurs, people have to make strategic choices. Their response to the collision largely influences their rights in the future. For example, apologizing could result in claims of fault even when it was clear that the other driver was to blame for the crash. Agreeing to settle the matter privately can all but eliminate the option of filing an insurance claim or a lawsuit if the other driver later backs out of their promise to cover crash expenses.
Calling law enforcement after a crash is an important step. People file a police report that affirms their right to seek compensation later. Reporting a crash is a legal requirement. While people wait for the police to arrive, they often move their vehicles off onto the shoulder of the road or away from their initial location. The goal is to allow traffic to move around the disabled or damaged vehicles.
While doing so can be important for safety, it isn’t necessarily the first step to take after a wreck.
Drivers need to preserve evidence
The placement of the vehicles in relation to one another and their surroundings can influence the crash investigation. Particularly in scenarios where the driver at fault tries to lie about the situation, proving what happened prior to and during the crash can be of the utmost importance.
The position of the vehicles and even the debris that breaks off of them during the crash can help if professional collision reconstruction is necessary to prove fault. Before drivers move their vehicles down the road away from an intersection or onto the shoulder of a busy road, they may need to document the scene of the crash.
While the law does require that drivers who can move their vehicles to prevent obstructing traffic do so, they can take a few minutes to preserve critical evidence before they move their vehicles. Mobile phones can capture photographs and video footage that show the collision scene as a whole. Videos circling the scene of the crash or photos from multiple angles that focus on vehicle placement rather than damage can be valuable after a collision.
Particularly in scenarios where another driver appears antagonistic or lacks remorse, gathering evidence can be important for those involved in car crashes. Drivers who know how to respond after a motor vehicle collision may have an easier time securing financial compensation and justice after a collision.
