One of the sad realities of life is that accidents happen. It doesn't matter how safely you drive or how well-equipped your car is with accident prevention features; you simply can't control or even predict other drivers' actions on the road.
When an accident happens, it's quite common to feel confused and overwhelmed with pain and emotions. However, the actions you take immediately after the accident can mean the difference between getting fairly compensated and dealing with the resulting losses out of pocket.
One of the best ways to ensure you get compensated after filing a car accident claim is by collecting relevant evidence. Car accident lawyers collect physical evidence, but they may not always get there on time, which means you have to take matters into your own hands.
In this article, we'll go over some of the key pieces of evidence you should collect after an accident and how to go about it.
Personal injury cases aren't always clear-cut as they're purported to be. They're full of legalities and other complexities that could make it difficult to bring a successful case to court. While having a reliable attorney could increase your chances of getting compensated, even the best attorney couldn't be much help without the right evidence to back your claim.
The reasoning behind this is pretty straightforward: evidence proves fault. The evidence you collect can be used to recreate the accident, making it easier to prove who was responsible for the crash, as well as the injuries and property damage suffered as a result of the crash.
Any piece of evidence you collect after an accident could help increase the success of your claim. However, some pieces of evidence bear more weight than others. Some of the most crucial pieces of evidence to collect include:
If you're not seriously injured, the police should be your first call immediately after a car crash. Besides the obvious benefits of making sure you're okay and calling emergency services on your behalf if need be, police officers could also investigate the accident scene and collect important evidence that could help strengthen your claim.
For instance, they collect witness statements, take photos of the accident scene, and use the information at hand to determine fault.
However, talking to the police after an accident may require some tact. This is not to mean that you should be uncooperative or deceive them, but rather, you shouldn't incriminate yourself. Incriminating yourself in such a scenario could be anything from saying you're sorry about the accident to admitting that you were distracted.
Through all this, the police will record everything you say and make a report. You should make sure to get a copy of this statement, as you can use it as evidence when filing a claim with your insurance company.
Witness Statements
Witness statements provide additional information about the circumstances leading to the crash and can also support your claims about who was at fault.
When talking to witnesses, make sure to:
Remember when they said a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, that notion very much applies to post-accident evidence collection. Pictures and videos can help establish the positions of the vehicles, the damage sustained, and the nature of the surrounding environment.
When taking photographs and videos, take note of the following areas:
Medical records go a long way in providing evidence for injuries sustained during the crash. They can also demonstrate the extent of the pain and suffering incurred by the victim, the medical treatment required, and the medical costs associated with the injuries, including the cost of ongoing treatment.
To get medical records, you first have to get treated for your injuries. Your preferred health center will create a file under your name detailing the treatments you receive. You should also ask for a copy of these records to serve as crucial pieces of evidence in determining your total compensation.
Getting into a car crash can be a traumatic experience. It could also cost you a lot of money in repairs and medical costs. To increase your chances of getting compensated and recouping some of those losses, you should collect as much evidence as possible to support your claims. You should also seek the help of an experienced attorney who will represent you in court if need be.
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