Preserving and Protecting Evidence in a Car Accident Case

If liability is not clear, there could be a huge gap between the insurance company's claim and the extent of your injuries. This is particularly true when the insurance company blames the cause of your crash on some other factor than your negligence.

During this time your team will ask information from the other side through interrogatories and depositions. These questions will be posed to the driver in question, as well as witnesses.

Preserving Evidence

In the event of a car accident the evidence you possess can significantly increase the chances of obtaining an award and recovering damages. This is why it's important to keep and protect every piece of evidence following the crash.

Thanks to the advancements in technology, this is more simple than ever. Smartphones can be used for taking high-quality photos and videos of the scene of the crash. Using these tools can help preserve important evidence that could otherwise be lost or destroyed.

The most critical pieces of evidence are the accident site and any witnesses. It is recommended that you try to capture the scene of the accident in the exact condition it was at following the collision. This could include all the vehicles involved in the crash, any skid marks left on the road, weather conditions, traffic signals and other factors.

Furthermore, you should think about contacting any businesses or companies who are located near the crash scene to request that they keep any evidence relevant to your case. If you were struck by a truck and requested that its black box be preserved, it could prove useful in your case.

If you suspect that the driver who caused the accident was under the influence or negligent, requesting their drug tests may also prove helpful in your case. The tests could show that the driver was intoxicated or distracted, which could be a solid proof of their negligence for causing an auto Accident.

Documenting Your Injury

When it comes to personal injury cases, thorough documentation is vital. This will not only guarantee that your healthcare provider is aware about your symptoms, but also help your lawyer demonstrate your damages and losses in a negligence case against the liable person.

One of the most essential forms of documentation is medical records. Ask for copies of all medical records when you visit your doctor for treatment after an accident. These records are official documents describing your injuries, symptoms and diagnoses. These records will also document any expenses you incurred because of the accident. This is important since many of these expenses can be reimbursed as part of your compensation claim.

Keep a log of your physical and emotional state after the accident. It should include the type of pain you experience and the location it occurs and the length of time it lasts. It is also important to document any mental trauma that you may be dealing with, as juries often award non-economic damage for this kind of incident.

It is also advisable to take photographs of your injuries and of the scene of the accident If you are able to. This can include photos of your car, any other vehicles involved in the collision, and any damage that might be caused to other objects (such as a building or sign). It is advisable to take multiple images of each object from different angles to help the investigators see the exact cause of the auto accident attorney.

Collecting witness statements

In an ideal world, witnesses' statements should be obtained immediately following an accident. It's important to keep in mind that people's memories fade over time, so it's best to request witnesses to give their statements as soon as is possible. The more specific a statement, the more detailed. It's also recommended that any interview with a witness is recorded (with their permission, of course) as it will assist in ensuring a precise report of what they witnessed.

You should also search for witnesses who aren't located within the immediate vicinity of your accident. You could ask local business owners if anyone witnessed your accident. This could lead to footage of your crash on the security camera of a store that could be helpful in your situation.

It's also important to make sure that any statements made by prospective witnesses don't include guesses of opinions, feelings or thoughts about the outcome of your accident or feelings of sympathy for you or other victims who were involved in the collision. These statements could damage your credibility, especially when they're contradicted by other witnesses. Do not ask anyone who knows the person who caused your injuries, or works for their employer to give evidence. They may try and influence your claim on behalf of the company they represent. If this is the case, you might not be able get the compensation you need.

Contacting an attorney

Consider whether an attorney has the resources to conduct a an extensive investigation into your accident. This could involve examining the crash scene in person and conducting interviews with witnesses and gathering additional documentation of the incident and your injuries.

After your attorney has reviewed all the documentation they could gather, they will begin the process of negotiating a settlement with the insurance company for the driver at fault. The goal is to secure an acceptable settlement without the necessity of a trial. Your attorney can talk to the insurance company a number of times before coming to an agreement.

The severity of your injuries will play an important influence on the amount of compensation you receive. Severe injuries can lead to more expensive medical bills and permanent effects that require more intensive treatment. For instance, some car accident victims might require surgery to fix long-term injuries caused by an accident. These expenses will be included in the total economic loss.

Your lawyer will also take into consideration the medical needs of your future and the lower quality of life your injuries have wrought. If you've been permanently injured in an accident that required you to modify your home to make it accessible to all of it, you could include the cost of this in your non-economic losses.