Preserving and Protecting Evidence in a Car Accident Case
In the event that the insurance company is disputing the liability of the other party, there could be a huge gap between their claim and your full damages. This is especially true when your insurance company blames the negligence of someone else for your accident.
During this time the team will seek information from the other side through depositions and interrogatories. The questions will be addressed to the other driver, as witnesses.
Conserving Evidence
In a case involving a car accident, the evidence that you have will greatly increase the chances of obtaining an award and recovering damages. It is crucial to preserve and secure any evidence you might have after an accident.
Thanks to the advances in technology, this is easier than ever. Smartphones can be used to take high-quality images and videos of the scene. These tools can be used to capture evidence that could otherwise be lost or destroyed.
The most critical pieces of evidence include the actual crash site and witnesses. In the ideal scenario, you should take a photo of the scene as it was prior to the collision. This could include all cars involved in the crash, any skid marks on the roadway and other road surfaces, weather conditions, traffic signals and other important factors.
Additionally, you should consider contact with any business or company located near the accident site to request that they keep any evidence relevant to your car accident case. For instance, if were struck by a car, requesting that the black box in the truck be preserved could be beneficial to your case.
If you suspect that the other driver was on drugs or otherwise negligent, requesting their drug tests may be beneficial in your case. These tests could reveal that the driver was drunk or distracted which could be a strong indication of their negligence for the cause of an accident.
Documenting Your Injuries
In personal injury cases, thorough documentation is crucial. Not only will this ensure that your healthcare provider is aware of the symptoms and symptoms, but it can also aid your attorney in proving your damages and losses when filing a claim against the responsible party for negligence.
Medical records are among the most important types of documentation. Request copies of all records whenever you visit your doctor to receive treatment after an accident. These records will serve to detail your injuries, symptoms and diagnoses. Additionally, these documents document any expenses incurred in the aftermath of your accident. This is crucial since a large portion of these expenses can be refunded as part your compensation claim.
Keep a diary of your physical and emotional condition following the incident. It should include the type of pain you feel and the location it occurs and how long it lasts. Also, if experiencing mental trauma, it's essential to document it also, since juries frequently give non-economic damages to victims of this kind of pain.
If you're able you are able, it would be helpful to take photos of your injuries as well as the scene of the crash. This can include photographs of your vehicle, any other vehicles involved in the crash, and any damage that could be caused to other objects (such as signs or buildings). It is best to take several photos of each object from different angles to help the investigators identify the exact cause of the crash.
Collecting Witness Statements
In the ideal scenario, witness statements should be gathered immediately following an accident. It's important to keep in mind that people's memories fade over time, so it's important to ask witnesses to provide their statements as soon as possible. The more detailed the declaration, the more accurate. It is also recommended to record any interview with a witness (with their consent obviously) because this will help ensure that the testimony of the witness is correct.
It's also worth searching for witnesses outside of the immediate vicinity of the crash. You could ask local business owners if they witnessed your accident. This could result in the footage of your accident being filmed on a security camera at a store.
It's also important that any statements from potential witnesses do not include speculations of opinions, feelings or thoughts about the result of your accident, or feelings of sympathy for other victims who were involved in the collision. auto accident law firm norwalk can damage your credibility, particularly when they are contradicted by other witnesses. Avoid asking anyone who is familiar with the person who caused your injuries, or works for their employer, to be a witness. These individuals may attempt to influence your claim on behalf of the company they represent. If this is the case, you might not be able to receive the compensation you need.
Contacting an attorney
When you are evaluating an attorney, think about whether they have the resources to conduct comprehensive investigations into the circumstances of your crash. This could mean visiting the site of the crash, talking to witnesses and gathering other documentation about the accident and your injuries.
After your lawyer has reviewed all the documents they can find, they'll begin an agreement negotiation process with the insurance provider for the driver who was at fault. The aim of this process is to get you a fair settlement, without the need for a trial. Your lawyer may be able to discuss with the insurance company multiple times before coming to an agreement.
The severity of your accident will have a significant impact on the amount of compensation you receive. Injuries that are severe can lead to larger medical bills and longer-lasting effects that require more intensive treatment. A few victims of car accidents might require surgery to correct the long-term damage to their injuries. These costs would be included in your total economic damages.
Your lawyer will also take into consideration the medical needs of your future and the lower quality of life your injuries have wrought. For instance, if are permanently injured in a crash that results in the need to renovate your home to allow you to access all areas and also the cost of doing this can be included in your non-economic damages.