4 Records To Collect After A Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accidents are injurious, costly and all too common in the United States. Every year, more than three million people sustain injuries in car crashes. If you are one of those statistics and unfortunately experience an accident, you may later decide to file an auto accident claim.

As part of the claim, you need to collect certain types of records in order to prove that you suffered damages and that the other driver was at fault for the crash.

1. Police reports

An official record is key in assigning fault for the accident. In a police report, a law enforcement officer may include information like his or her opinion on the cause of the accident, if the other driver got a ticket and any witnesses’ identities. The report might have other details such as weather conditions the day of the crash and the exact time and location of the accident.

2. Employment records

If you have to take time off work to heal from your car accident, make sure to collect any financial documents related to your employment. These documents will show the approximate value of your lost wages. Examples of what you should keep are check stubs, tax returns, tip records and direct deposit records.

3. Damage reports

If the accident damaged your vehicle, you should keep records such as inspection documents, repair receipts, insurance reports and towing paperwork. If possible, take pictures of the car damage and accident scene.

4. Medical records

Keeping a detailed summary of your medical bills and records as you receive them is highly beneficial as these damages will likely make up a significant part of your demand for compensation. Your medical expenses may include test results, diagnoses documents, hospital bills and treatment related records.

Overall, retaining these important documents will go a long way in helping you recover compensation for the injuries you suffered in the accident.