Autor: Shelby Benavidez<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abogado colaborador: John Sydow, attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n When someone you love dies in a car accident, gathering evidence is probably the last thing on your mind. But in the days and weeks that follow, you may start to have questions. What exactly happened? Was the other driver speeding? Were they drunk or distracted? While your family is searching for answers, the insurance company may already be conducting its own fatal accident investigation and deciding what it believes happened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why preserving evidence early can be so important. You don\u2019t need to become an investigator. You don\u2019t need to know what every piece of evidence means, either. But knowing what not to delete, throw away, repair, or overlook can protect valuable information that will help your family\u2019s wrongful death claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After a car accident fatality, there isn’t one person gathering every possible piece of information and putting it into a folder for your family. Different people and agencies are investigating different aspects of crash and fatality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Police may investigate the crash itself. A medical examiner or justice of the peace may investigate the death<\/a>. The vehicles are then taken to a tow yard, while insurance companies begin their own investigations into who (or what) caused the crash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The law enforcement agency investigating your loved one\u2019s crash may have more than just the police report. Officers may have collected personal belongings from the scene, such as a phone, wallet, keys, clothing, or other items that belonged to your family member. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you contact the investigating agency, ask how you can request a copy of the crash report and whether they are holding any of your loved one\u2019s belongings. Some of your loved one\u2019s belongings may need to stay with the police while they investigate the crash. Ask which items you can pick up now and how to get the rest back when they\u2019re released. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After fatal auto accidents, the vehicle of the deceased may be towed from the crash scene. The investigating police department should be able to tell you which towing company removed the vehicle and where it is being stored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have that information, contact the yard to figure out what you need to do to retrieve your loved one’s belongings. You’ll likely have to provide identification or paperwork<\/a> showing that you have permission to access the property. It\u2019s also important to ask about storage fees. These costs can increase each day the vehicle remains at the tow yard, so find out what is owed and what needs to happen to move the vehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The tow yard or insurance company may ask what you want to do with the vehicle. Before agreeing to repairs or allowing it to be salvaged or destroyed, consult with your wrongful death attorney. They may need the black box data or other physical evidence from the vehicle to build your claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You may not have been at the crash site, but someone who witnessed it may reach out to your family or be listed on the police report. Share their contact information with your attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney can reach out for a statement while the details of what the witness saw are still fresh in their mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019re sorting through your loved one\u2019s personal matters, avoid canceling their phone service, closing accounts, or resetting devices while the fatal accident investigation is ongoing. Their phone, smartwatch, or other devices could have texts, calls, photos, location history, or other information<\/a>from moments before the crash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It may seem irrelevant, but if the other driver denies liability, this evidence can help protect your claim. You don\u2019t need to search through their devices on your own; just don\u2019t delete or reset anything before you know whether it could be useful to your wrongful death claim. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Save any photos or videos related to the crash, including pictures of the crash scene, vehicle damage, debris, road conditions, injuries, and your loved one\u2019s belongings. If a witness or someone else sends you photos or videos, save those too. Whenever possible, keep the original files rather than screenshots or copies downloaded from social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you know there were surveillance cameras near the crash, let your fatal car accident lawyer know as soon as possible. Nearby businesses, homes, traffic cameras, or other properties may have captured the accident or the moments leading up to it. Surveillance footage may be overwritten in as little as 7 days<\/a>, so your attorney can work to locate and preserve available video before it is deleted or recorded over. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Any documentation you receive related to the fatal accident is worth keeping. This could include police reports, medical records and bills, funeral expenses, tow yard paperwork, insurance letters, or documents from your loved one\u2019s employer. Even if you don\u2019t think it will be important to your claim, keep everything in a single folder, store it somewhere safe, and let your attorney help determine what may be useful later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying to manage an investigation while grieving someone you love is a lot of weight to carry. A wrongful death attorney can take some of that responsibility off your shoulders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A skilled fatal car accident lawyer knows where to look for evidence, how to preserve it, and how to use the evidence to share your loved one\u2019s unique story. They can take the lead on the fatal accident investigation and handle the records, negotiations, and legal aspects that come with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While your attorney focuses on building the case, you can lean on your family. You can spend your energy supporting each other, grieving your loved one, and finding your way forward together. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTabla de contenido<\/h2>
TL;DR: What Should Your Family Save after Fatal Accident Investigation?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nWhat Happens After Someone Dies in a Car Accident? Fatal Car Accident Investigation Procedure<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fatal Accident Investigation<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Retrieving Personal Effects from the Police Department Investigating the Crash<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Find Out Where Your Loved One’s Vehicle Was Taken<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Evidence Families Should Preserve After a Fatal Accident<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Share Witness Information with Your Fatal Car Accident Lawyer<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Keep Their Phone, Messages, Photos, and Digital Accounts<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Save the Original Photos and Videos<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Tell Your Attorney About Nearby Surveillance Cameras<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Keep Any Documents Related to the Car Accident Fatality<\/strong> <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How a Wrongful Death Attorney Can Help After a Fatal Car Accident<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n