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September 24, 2026
Car accident evidence often includes documents, photographs, recordings, physical evidence, and other information that helps show what happened and who may be responsible. The sooner you preserve this information, the easier it may be to build a clear record of the collision.
In Arizona, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under A.R.S. § 12-542. However, evidence can disappear much sooner. Strong documentation can help establish fault, connect your injuries to the collision, and support the losses you claim.
At Zanes Law, we help accident victims identify, gather, and preserve evidence that may support their claim. We’ll review the evidence you’ll need to collect after an accident and why it matters.
Arizona follows a pure comparative fault system. This means that an injured person may recover damages even if they share partial responsibility for an accident. However, their compensation may be reduced by their percentage of fault.
Because of this, insurance companies may try to shift more of the blame onto you to reduce your payout. Photos, witness statements, medical documentation, and other evidence can help establish what happened and challenge inaccurate fault allegations.
In Arizona, you also have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under A.R.S. § 12-542. However, evidence can disappear much faster. Strong documentation can help establish fault, connect your injuries to the collision, and support the losses you claim.
For a free legal consultation, call (866) 499-8989
You can gather many types of car accident evidence once the dust settles. Having a variety of evidence at your disposal can help reinforce the facts of what happened and ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
The strongest pieces of evidence you can collect include:
When law enforcement investigates a collision, the resulting crash report can provide useful documentation about the people and vehicles involved, road conditions, citations, and the officer’s observations. You can request a copy of this report after the accident to strengthen your claim.
If you can do so safely, photograph the scene of the accident. Capture:
Keep the original files on your phone or another secure device. Original photos may retain useful date, time, and location information that edited images or screenshots won’t.
An independent witness may be able to describe what they saw at the time of the accident. Be sure to ask them for their full name, phone number, and email address before they leave the scene. If you want to record their statement, you’ll need to ask for their permission first.
Medical records can help connect your injuries to the accident and document the care you needed. Seek medical attention as soon as you can after an accident, and keep copies of relevant medical records, test results, prescriptions, therapy records, medical bills, and out-of-pocket receipts.
Dashcam footage may show vehicle positions, traffic conditions, driver behavior, or the collision itself. Save the original recording as soon as possible so it isn’t accidentally deleted or overwritten. If you don’t have dashcam footage, look for nearby businesses, parking lots, or other locations with cameras.
After an accident, get the other driver’s contact information and insurance details. If you can, photograph their insurance card and other information. Important details to collect include:
The evidence doesn’t stop at the accident scene. Keep vehicle repair estimates, rental or transportation receipts, and documents showing income you lost because of the accident. You can also keep a journal describing your symptoms, pain levels, activities you can’t perform, and how your injuries affect daily life.
All of this information can provide additional context about losses that may not appear fully in medical records.
What you do after an accident can affect the evidence available later. It can feel overwhelming to worry about doing the right thing after an accident, but treading carefully can make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Common mistakes to avoid include:
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You can gather photographs, medical records, witness information, and other evidence yourself. However, other evidence may require formal preservation efforts or legal procedures to obtain.
This is where a car accident attorney comes in. The right legal team can help with:
An attorney can send a preservation letter notifying another party to retain potentially relevant evidence. This can be useful when surveillance recordings, vehicle data, electronic records, or other information could otherwise be deleted or lost.
Some evidence is difficult to obtain through a voluntary request. Once appropriate legal procedures are in place, an attorney can use discovery, subpoenas, or other records requests to obtain relevant information.
If fault is disputed, an attorney can work with an accident reconstruction specialist. These experts can examine physical evidence, photographs, vehicle damage, roadway information, and other data to analyze how a collision occurred.
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Start collecting and preserving evidence as soon as possible. While Arizona generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit under A.R.S. § 12-542, evidence becomes harder to obtain the longer you wait.
Yes. Dashcam footage may help document vehicle positions, traffic conditions, driver behavior, and the collision itself. Whether specific footage is admissible in court depends on the circumstances and applicable evidence rules.
Document the scene yourself if you can do so safely. Take photos, exchange information with the other driver, collect witness contact information, and write down what happened while the details are fresh.
Yes. An insurance company may review publicly available posts and use photos, comments, or activity updates to dispute the severity of your injuries or other parts of your claim. Consider limiting what you post while your case is pending.
You can preserve many forms of evidence yourself, including photos, witness information, receipts, and medical records. An attorney will help identify and formally preserve additional evidence, such as surveillance footage, certain records, or vehicle data.
Evidence can change or disappear long before Arizona’s deadline to file an injury lawsuit. If you were recently injured in a crash, our Phoenix car accident lawyers at Zanes Law can review what happened, identify evidence that may still be available, and explain your legal options.
We offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. Contact our team to discuss your Arizona car accident claim and the evidence that may help support it.
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