How to Document Your Car Accident for a Strong Legal Case in SC

If you or your loved one have been injured in a car accident in South Carolina, call Luke today at (843) 379-3285 for a free consultation. We will fight for your justice!

If you are entitled to recover your losses from a car accident in South Carolina, documentation will be one of the keys to your success. Thoroughly documenting a car accident is essential, as this allows you to prove both what happened and who (or what company) is to blame. 

So, what are the steps involved in documenting a car accident? And what types of documentation do you need? 

What Types of Evidence Do You Need After a Car Accident in SC?

Before we talk about the steps involved in documenting a car accident, we should briefly discuss the importance of evidence in your car accident case. As we mentioned already, thorough documentation is essential. The more documentation (and other evidence) you have, the easier it will be to prove your legal rights—and the harder it will be for the insurance companies to deny just compensation. 

Documenting a car accident is a multi-step process, and it may take several different types of evidence to prove that you are entitled to financial compensation. Right now, one of the most important steps you can take is to write down everything you remember. Even though your notes may not constitute “evidence” in your case, they will still be extremely helpful for determining where evidence may be found. 

Along with taking detailed notes, you should also keep any documentation that you currently have in your possession (or that comes into your possession in the future). This may include things like: 

• Photos and videos you took at the accident scene
• The other driver’s vehicle and insurance information 
• Your copy of the police report (if you didn’t receive a copy at the accident scene, obtaining police accident reports is usually a fairly straightforward process)
• Your medical records and medical bills (which can help prove both the timing and the severity of the accident) 
• Any documents you receive from the insurance companies 

The more documentation you can preserve, the better. If you aren’t sure whether a particular piece of documentation is important, there is no harm in keeping it to discuss with your lawyer. It’s better to have something you don’t need than to not have something you do. 

Additional Steps Involved in Proving Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident

While it is important that you preserve as much documentation as possible, this will be just one of several steps involved in proving your legal rights after a car accident. When you hire an experienced lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will take additional steps such as: 

• Collecting Evidence at the Scene of the Accident – Collecting evidence at the scene of the accident is critical in many cases. To ensure that your lawyer can thoroughly document the accident scene before key evidence disappears, you should call for a free consultation as soon as possible. 
• Talking to Eye Witnesses – If there were any eye witnesses to your car accident, your lawyer will want to talk to them for two key reasons: (i) to find out if they have any photos or videos that document your car accident or its aftermath; and, (ii) to find out if they can provide a sworn statement in support of your claim for just compensation. 
• Obtaining Documentation from Other Sources – Additional forms of documentation may be available from a variety of other sources. The other driver’s vehicle maintenance records, the other driver’s cell phone records, and even the other driver’s receipts from a bar or liquor store could be key evidence in your car accident case. Once your lawyer conducts a preliminary investigation, your lawyer will be able to determine what additional forms of documentation may be available, and then your lawyer will be able to work to obtain this documentation via the appropriate legal means.

While it is important that you preserve as much documentation as possible, it is even more important that you hire a lawyer to investigate right away. This costs nothing out of pocket, and you should not have to pay any fees or costs unless your lawyer helps you recover just compensation. 

Get the Help You Need from Experienced South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Luke Paulick 

Do you need to seek financial compensation after a car accident in South Carolina? If so, we strongly encourage you to contact us so that we can help. To speak with experienced South Carolina car accident lawyer Luke Paulick in confidence as soon as possible, call 843-379-3285 or send us your contact information online now.