Even if you’re in a minor accident or the police completed a report, it never hurts to treat your accident as a potential legal claim. With that mindset, you need to collect evidence to minimize your potential liability should you be sued for the accident.
When documenting an accident, try to collect witness statements. If any drivers pulled over or pedestrians witnessed the accident, ask for their names and contact information. Their testimony may be needed later if the accident turns into a personal injury case.
You also should take photographs of the accident. Use your phone to take pictures of the damage to your car and injury. Take pictures of the surrounding area as the location of your accident could impact your liability.
Say, for example, you caused an accident by failing to stop at a stop sign. If the sign is overrun with foliage and difficult to see, your liability could be reduced or removed.