People involved in car crashes often feel discombobulated and anxious. They know they may have to wait for police officers to arrive, and they may be unsure of what to do while they wait. They want to protect themselves and ensure that they can receive appropriate compensation, especially if they were not at fault for the wreck.
In some cases, people make seemingly minor decisions at the scene of a crash that can affect their options for compensation later. For example, they could make choices that disturb the scene of the crash and make it more difficult to establish who is actually at fault for the wreck.
While moving vehicles away from active lanes of traffic is often necessary for safety after a collision, there is something else that people may need to do before they move their vehicles.
Documenting the crash scene is critical
The placement of the vehicles in relation to one another is important when assessing what happened during and after a crash. Even the location of debris can influence how forensic specialists reconstruct the collision.
Before people move their vehicles, they may want to take a moment to take photos of the scene of the crash with their mobile phones. The information contained in those images can prove invaluable if there are questions about who is at fault later.
Moving the vehicles is often necessary
In most cases, moving the vehicles to limit the obstruction of traffic is crucial for safety. The law does require that people move their vehicles after a crash to prevent traffic jams and secondary collisions if it is possible to do so.
Moving the vehicles does not automatically alter the allocation of fault for the crash. Drivers may need the help of onlookers in cases where the vehicle sustained significant damage. Other times, they may need to use road signs and flares to alert approaching vehicles about the disabled vehicles on the road.
People who take the right steps after car crashes are less likely to face challenges when they seek compensation later. Preserving information about the collision is important, as is making an effort to prevent secondary collisions. Drivers who know how to handle the aftermath of a wreck can protect themselves physically and legally after a motor vehicle collision occurs.