If you have been hurt in a car accident, it’s logical to think that the driver who caused the accident should compensate you for your injuries. However, a driver’s negligence or carelessness is not always apparent. That means you must be prepared to battle your case in court and prove that you were indeed the victim and deserve compensation for your lost income, medical expenses, and other damages.
Remember, courts work with the evidence you provide, and a car accident attorney will need you to gather all the information you have to help you maximize it to your benefit. The more physical evidence you have to support your personal injury case, the more likely you’re to win and receive compensation. Let’s look at some of the evidence you must present to protect yourself from fabricated defenses by the at-fault driver.
Evidence from the Scene of the Accident
After a car crash, you may feel confused and shocked. It may take you a few minutes to process the situation and even get your bearings. That said, you need to collect as much information as possible about the accident scene. If you’re critically injured, find someone to take a video of the scene, including how the vehicles are positioned, the time, surroundings, and any other detail. If you can walk and talk, take pictures, and collect anything on the accident scene, that may be important in the case.
Photos and Videos of the Accident
Photos and videos are pretty critical when it comes to car accidents. They can provide more details than you can ever imagine about the crash. Investigators can tell who is at fault based on how the vehicles are positioned in a photo or video. Taking pictures is an easy way to collect evidence, and you don’t have to do it yourself. When taking photos, be sure to pay attention to the injuries you or your passengers may have suffered, the conditions of the vehicles, the vehicle placement, the debris, broken glass, and skid marks, road defects or construction work, traffic control signs or devices such as yield, stop and traffic lights and the weather conditions.
Witness Testimony
If your injuries don’t prevent you from speaking to other people after the accident, try to collect the names and contact information of the pedestrians and other vehicle drivers who saw the accident happen and the events leading to it. You can do all this using video. This will take the face of the witnesses and everything they say. Since the ordeal is still fresh in their minds, they can provide objective descriptions of precisely what they saw and back up your story.
Other Driver’s Information
Getting other drivers’ information can be difficult, especially if they know they are at fault. They may attempt to flee the scene. It’s also impossible to get the details if they’re severely injured or unconscious. To avoid conflict, don’t force the information off of them. Be sure to give yours first and see if they will be comfortable giving theirs. Ideally, you should collect their full name, address on their licenses, license number, license plate number, and their insurance provider’s name. You can also take a photo of their license. In most cases, the police will do this for you.
Police Report
The police report is an important document that contains details of the accident, such as when it happened, the location, and who is likely at fault. A police report will include the details of the other driver, contacts of the witnesses, the other driver’s statement, photographs, and a brief narration of how the accident occurred.
Medical Report and Bills
The reason why you are probably heading to court is because you got injured and need compensation. Choose a hospital that prioritizes your health and is ready to provide a statement regarding your condition. You need all the doctor’s examination reports and receipts of your medical bills as evidence that you were injured in the accident. The court may also want the statements of the doctor and nurses.
