Howard Andrew Raphaelson Transportation Law Blog on Lawyers.com

While train, bus, or subway transit accidents are not as common as car accidents, injuries are often serious.  With all the confusion caused by large numbers of passengers, and the fact that you are not likely to immediately know what caused the accident, it can be very difficult to preserve the evidence you need to present the strong case that will result in the compensation you need for your injuries.

Clearly, the first order of business must be addressing all injuries that resulted from the accident.  But, there are many things you and your New York City personal injury attorney can do to obtain the evidence you need to build a strong case.

Obtaining accident site evidence

If you are in a position to obtain evidence at the accident site, take the following actions:

§         Document every detail you can remember of the accident.  This can include whether passengers were unable to remain in their seats, whether items inside the cabins came loose as a result or the crash, or even whether you think the lack of safety devices caused injuries.

§         Take note of any conversations you heard.  In particular, if the driver or conductor said anything about the cause of the accident, including vehicle or system malfunctions, or if you overheard any pertinent statements made by anyone investigating immediately after the accident, be sure to jot it down.  Also, don’t forget that transit accidents make the news.  Be sure to watch for and retain any articles you encounter about the accident.  They will often include official statements that can help support your case.

§         If you are in a position to take photographs of the accident site, the position of any vehicles, or anything else that might provide evidence of what happened, be sure to do so.

Not all evidence you obtain will be admissible in court, but anything you can obtain can provide valuable clues for your accident attorney in New York.

Obtaining evidence of your injuries

From the moment you first seek medical attention, and until you have fully recovered, you must diligently retain all medical records and receipts for all related expenses (even aspirin or other analgesics purchased to ease the pain from your injuries).  Retain clothing or possessions that were damaged by the accident.  If your injuries affected your life in other ways, such as losing time at work, or having to hire people to take care of you or your family, be sure to keep detailed records of all your losses.

New York City accident lawyers can help