Submitting a car accident claim or pursuing a lawsuit is primarily about documentation. You need to be able to have the basic questions asked in any bad situation, especially issues regarding who, when, what, and how. Working with an auto accident attorney can be a little bit easier if you focus on assembling the four items on this checklist.

Medical Reports

The core of almost every claim filed by every car accident attorney is about the medical consequences of an incident. Were there broken bones? Was there brain or spinal trauma? Did the victim suffer scarring?

Presenting these claims requires excellent documentation of the medical issues involved. That starts with getting medical reports from trauma and ER doctors. It also extends to visiting specialists, chiropractors and surgeons to learn about deeper issues that might not have been detected until the swelling went down, tests could be done and exploratory work could happen.

Every time you meet with a doctor, get their contact information. Also, ask them to stay in touch with you if they move or their practice changes. Get the same information from any nurses or technicians you meet with, too.

Police Reports

Describing how the incident unfolded is almost as important. This is especially the case if there are disputes over the facts of what led to an accident. Few things can be as convincing to a claims adjuster, a judge or a juror as the statement of a police officer.

Photos

The scenes of accidents change much more rapidly than you might expect. if you're not physically ready to photograph a scene, get a friend or family member to go to the site as soon as the police have cleared people to go there. Do not assume the cops will get all the angles or provide all the photographic evidence you require. It's also a good idea to capture images of the vehicles at the wrecker's yard after they've been hauled off.

Witness Information

If you or someone you trust is in good enough shape to talk with witnesses after an accident, collect their contact information right away. Don't spend a lot of time discussing the incident, and instead focus on making sure you can stay in touch. If you saw someone at a scene who you think can easily be tracked down, such as a shop clerk at a convenience store, tell your auto accident attorney so they can contact them.