In minor car collisions, they’re ideally no-fuss. After the accident, there will be a quick exchange of contact numbers, insurance information, and other key details, and then that’s it. Drivers involved in the accident will let their respective insurance providers handle these matters. How convenient, don’t you think? So you might wonder, is there a need to call the police?

Actually, yes, parties involved in a car accident may still need to contact law enforcement officers. No matter how minor the accident was, you’ll still need to secure a police report on the collision. Truth be told, reporting the matter to the police will save you from the hassle later on.

While reporting to the police is imperative, what’s optional is informing the insurance provider. Parties to the accident may dispense with the intervention of the insurance companies. For instance, they may opt to have their respective damage repaired out of their own pockets.

The Importance of Securing a Police Report

A police report covers the circumstances surrounding the accident. With this document, it negates the likelihood of creating assumptions as to what happened. Thus, in the event of a legal action for recovery of damages, it effectively eliminates disputes on the turn of events.

It becomes easier to seek compensation because the police report can strengthen the case. Whether the car accident is a major or minor one, it is best to secure this piece of paper.

This unbiased account of the accident contains the following information:

• Names of the parties involved,
• Injuries sustained by the parties, if any,
• Damage to the vehicles involved,
• Time, date and place of the accident, and
• Statements of witnesses.

Here are tips when reporting a car accident to police officers.

Call 911 Immediately

If you’re involved or witnessed a car accident (especially a major, catastrophic one), the first thing you need to do is call 911. Do this even if there are no apparent injuries or damage. The purpose is to let the police officers ascertain the circumstances and write a report on the incident.

There will be an investigation as soon as the police officers will arrive. Searching questions will likely focus on who or what caused the accident and how.

Law enforcement officers will also want to obtain the personal and contact information of the involved drivers and passengers, if any. The police, however, will focus more on the driver; whether there was a likelihood that he or she drove under the influence.

Witness on the scene as well as injured bystanders will also be requested to give their personal and contact information. Statements will also be obtained.

Based on the investigation, the police officers responding at the scene will make the report.

What If There Are No Police Officers at the Scene

There may be instances when police officers don’t respond at the scene of the accident. Thus, you may need to file your own report to the police as soon as possible. In support of your narrative, taking photos and/or videos that cover all angles is highly recommended.

Collect as much evidence as may be available and necessary in support of your side of the story. This may be needed as it is not uncommon for the party at fault to change their story to evade liability.

Contact an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

To cover your bases, seek legal representation from an experienced car accident lawyer. With his or her help, you can ensure that your interests and rights are protected during your action to obtain compensation for damages.

Looking for a highly experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney? Contact Dan Lovell of Empire Law Group.

The post Reporting a Car Accident to the Police appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

The events following a car accident can be very crucial. What you do afterwards can make or break your case should you decide to pursue a legal action in court.

While your primary concern after a car accident should be your safety and well-being, the next logical priority are your legal rights. If you have been wronged, it is only just that you receive some form of recompense for the loss or harm you suffered.

But in most cases, recovery of damages can become a lengthy and protracted legal battle. Without evidence in support of your cause of action, your lawsuit will be pointless, incapable of producing the desired outcome.

Which is why, writing down notes following a car accident is a proven useful device in preserving in your mind as much details of the unfortunate event. In support of your written accounts are photos.

What better way to show the extent of the damage to the court or the insurance provider than using pictures. Visual images can eliminate any doubt as to your claim of damages sustained. Thus, should the matter proceed in a legal battle, it’s a lot easier to demonstrate the harm done by the erring driver.

In this article, we offer pointers on how to effectively take photos at the scene of the car accident.

Preserving the Evidence

Photos are very effective minimizing disputes on facts relating to the scene of the accident. By taking images, you preserve the evidence, which is crucial in support of your legal claims. Even a quick glance of the photos can give its viewers a depiction of what happened. In turn, these images can give an impression of who was at fault and what is the extent of the damage.

Taking Effective Pictures

Photos are pieces of evidence, which may be given greater weight in legal disputes involving car accidents. Thus, it is critical that you take quality photos of the scene of the accident. Make sure the images reflect proper context and accurate details. Get pictures from every angle possible, highlighting the damaged areas.

General View of the Scene of the Car Accident

First off, take pictures that depict a general view of the accident. Without going into the details, obtain multiple shots from various angles. Begin by including all the vehicles directly in contact with your car. Then take a snapshot of each of those vehicles along with your vehicle.

When shooting a photo of these cars, make sure you get all the involved vehicles in the frame relative to the position of your car. Take pictures from various angles to demonstrate each car’s proximity to other cars involved.

Traffic Lights, Road Signs, and Weather Conditions

If the accident occurred near a traffic light or road signs, take photos of these fixtures in relation to the vehicles. Should there be any signs, posts, guardrails, or similar stationary objects that were damaged on the occasion of the car accident, you should get photos of them too.

Weather conditions can also play a factor in car accidents. So if rain or snow contributed to the unfortunate occurrence, it’s best to take photos of the state of the atmosphere at that time.

If there are any, get shots of skid marks, roadside debris, and other signs of the accidents within the immediate vicinity.

Detailed Images of the Damage, License Plates, Etc.

Get close-up shots of the scratches, dents, and broken glasses of the vehicles. Whenever permitted, take photos of the interior as well, if there are anything damaged.

For proper identification of the vehicles, take snapshots of their license plates as well as the insurance cards of the other drivers.

Injuries

Photos of your injuries are the among the best proof of what you sustained as a result of the car accident. However, as a matter of propriety and civility, please refrain from taking photos of the injured people, unless they themselves permitted you to do so. Be respectful of other people’s privacy.

Seek Legal Representation

If you’re looking to explore your legal options, contact a car accident attorney.

Want to have your case reviewed by a highly experienced Las Vegas car accident attorney? Get in touch with Dan Lovell of Empire Law Group.

The post Tips for Taking Photos Following a Car Accident appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.

4 Safety Tips For Your Summer Travels

Summer is here! It marks the start of the season for warm, beautiful weather. And for the kids, it’s the end of classes too. There’s plenty of time for them to go outside and play. And what better way to celebrate the wonderful climate than to travel and see what the world has to offer.

Travel presents wonderful opportunities for adults and kids to enjoy the summer break. Some take the plane to their destination. Others hop on a bus or in their cars to go on a road trip. Whichever is the preference, safety should be the paramount consideration.

Check out these 4 safety tips to keep in mind when traveling to your summer destination.

1. Travel Light.

No matter where you’re going to this year’s summer vacation, it pays to travel light. You don’t need to bring a lot of things. Just the essentials and you’re good to go. The fewer the stuff you’re bringing, the less likely you’ll attract thieves or robbers.

So start by cleaning out your wallets or purses of the unnecessary stuff. If you’re traveling abroad, bring only the essential documents and a couple of IDs. Some cash would be nice but not too much though. Remember to bring only what you need and keep your pouches light.

Also, always keep your money and essential documents close to your body. Big knapsacks and large purses that hung on the side of the body can be tempting for thieves. Bulging wallets, on the other hand, can lure robbers and pickpockets. So get a purse, wallet, or bag that’s small enough not to attract these undesirable elements but big enough to contain the essentials.

Bringing a lot of stuff can make you look like a tourist. This makes you an easy target. So try to blend in. It also helps to wear basic clothing to look like a local. Leave the expensive jewelry and other accessories at home too.

2. Safety First in the Water.

Summer is almost synonymous to water. Whether it’s a pool, lake, or beach, the warm weather season is the perfect time to take a dip. As many families tend to head to the water to cool down, take the time to assess the safety conditions of the area.

Are the waves high? Is the water deep? These are just some of the important things to consider. This is especially true if you’re bringing a little kid with you.

Another matter to take into account is the crowd. Is there a risk of losing your child among the crowd? Can you easily spot him or her?

Make sure the kids are well-supervised. It’s also a good idea to let them take swimming lessons before the planned beach, lake, or pool outing. And don’t forget to put sunscreen. Sunburn can be very painful and ruin a perfectly fun vacation.

3. Safe Travels to Your Destination and Back.

Safety should always be on your mind, especially if you’re traveling with your loved ones. This consciousness should begin even before you walk out your door. So check your car, make sure you packed the things you need, get enough sleep the night before, etc.

If you plan to do a road trip, have your vehicle checked ahead of your travel. Like they say, take care of your car and your car will take care of you.

Also plan the best route. Without a plan, you might end up lost. This can be particularly dangerous. Don’t forget to pack an emergency kit like water, food, and flashlights.

4. Maintain a Buddy System.

First of all, always keep the kids close. Urge the children to do the same. If left unsupervised, they might be vulnerable to dangers. Should they get separated from the pack, set meet-up points or safe areas beforehand as a security measure.

The post Top 4 Important Safety Tips For Your Summer Travels appeared first on Empire Law Group, Las Vegas car accident attorney Dan J. Lovell.