Preserving and Protecting Evidence in a Car Accident Case

In the event that the insurance company denies the liability of the other party, there could be a large gap between their offer and your total damages. This is especially true if your insurance company blames the negligence of someone else for your accident.

During this time, your team will request information from the other side via depositions and interrogatories. These questions will be posed to witnesses, the driver who was not involved and others.

Preservation of Evidence

The evidence you've collected during a car crash can increase your chances of obtaining settlements or Auto Accident Law Firm recover damages. This is why it is crucial to keep and protect any evidence that you have after the crash.

Thanks to modern technology, this is more simple than ever before. Smartphones can be used to capture high-quality pictures and video of the scene of your crash. These tools can assist in capturing evidence that would otherwise be lost or destroyed.

The most important pieces of evidence include the actual accident site and any witnesses. Ideally, you should try to capture the accident scene as it was prior to the collision. This could include all the vehicles involved in the auto accident lawsuit, any skid marks on the road, weather conditions, traffic signals, and other relevant factors.

In addition, you should consider reaching out to any businesses or organizations that are near the accident scene to request that they keep any evidence that might be relevant to your case. If you were struck by a vehicle and demanded that its black box be preserved it could be helpful to your claim.

You might also find it beneficial to request the test for the drug of the other driver if you suspect they were negligent or on drugs. These tests may show that the driver was drunk or distracted which could be a solid proof of their negligence for causing an fort scott auto accident lawyer.

Documenting your injuries

Documentation is essential in personal injury cases. Not only does this ensure that your healthcare provider is aware of your medical condition 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 one of the most important types of documentation. When you visit your doctor for treatment following an accident, ask to be given copies of every record. These records will be official documents detailing your injuries, symptoms, and diagnoses. These documents will also document the costs you incurred in the aftermath of your accident. This is important because a large portion of these expenses are reimbursable as part of your compensation claim.

Keep a log of your physical and emotional state following the accident. It should include the type of pain you feel as well as the location where it occurs and how long it lasts. In addition, if you're suffering from any emotional trauma, it's important to document this also, since juries frequently decide to award non-economic damages in the same type of pain.

If you are able and able, it's also beneficial to get photographs of your injuries and the scene of the crash. This can include photographs of your vehicle, any other vehicles involved in the crash and any damage that might have been caused to other objects (such as a building or sign). It is recommended to take several photos of each object from various angles so that the investigators can discern the exact cause for the crash.

Collecting witness statements

In a perfect world witness statements would be collected as quickly as possible after an accident. Keep in mind that people's memories fade as time passes. It is best to have witnesses give their statements as quickly as possible. The more detailed the statement, the better. It is also recommended that an interview with a witness be recorded (with their permission of course) because this will ensure a true report of what they witnessed.

You should also seek out witnesses who aren't within the immediate vicinity of your accident. For instance, you might need to ask those working at local businesses whether they were witnesses to your car accident. This could result in footage of your accident being recorded on a security camera at a store.

It's also worth ensuring that any statements from potential witnesses do not contain guesses, opinions or feelings about the outcome of your accident or sympathy for the other victims involved in the collision. These statements can hurt your credibility, especially if they are contradicted by other witnesses. You should avoid asking for testimony from any person who knows the person at responsible for your injuries or works with their employer, as these individuals may try to influence your claim to the benefit of the company they represent. You might not receive the compensation that you need if this is the situation.

Contacting an attorney

Take into consideration whether an attorney has the resources to conduct an exhaustive investigation into your accident. This could include examining the scene of the crash and interviewing witnesses and acquiring other documentation of the accident and your injuries.

Once your attorney has viewed all the documentation they can gather, they will begin a settlement negotiation process with the insurance company of the at-fault driver. This process is designed to ensure that you receive an appropriate settlement without the need for a trial. Your lawyer may need to talk with the insurance company multiple times before an agreement is reached.

The severity of your injuries will play a significant role in the amount of compensation you receive. The most severe injuries can result in higher medical costs and more long-lasting effects that require more intensive care. A few victims of car accidents might require surgery to correct long-term injuries. These expenses will be included in your total economic loss.

Your attorney will also consider the medical needs of your future and the lower quality of life your injuries have caused. For example, if you are permanently injured in a crash which resulted in the necessity of re-designing your home to allow you to access all areas, the cost of doing this could be included in your non-economic damages.