A car accident is a traumatic event anyone could experience. You and your passengers may have suffered injuries. Your vehicle will get damaged. You likely incurred expenses you never expected. Even if the crash is minor, dealing with the insurance company after the accident is more challenging to your life than the accident itself. If you are Injured in a car accident, you should contact a car accident lawyer immediately.
Important evidence in a car accident case
After an accident, one should not leave the accident spot and collect the following evidence to claim compensation for the damages.
In a car accident case, you need to prove several things to establish fault and liability for the accident. Things you need to establish may vary due to the laws of your state and the accident event, but generally, you need to prove the following:
- Duty of Care: The other driver had a duty of care to drive safely and responsibly on the road.
- Breach of Duty: The other driver breached their duty of care by acting negligently, recklessly, or intentionally.
- Causation: The other driver’s breach of duty caused the accident and your injuries.
- Damages: You suffered damages from the accident, such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
- Police report
A police report is the most important evidence for a car accident case. It includes accident information, parties involved in the accident, and any witness statements.
- Eyewitness testimony
Eyewitnesses who saw the accident can provide valuable testimony about what happened. They can describe what happened in the event sequentially that led to the accident, the vehicles’ speed, and the drivers’ behaviors.
- Physical evidence
Physical evidence like skid marks, debris, and vehicle damage can help reconstruct an accident and determine who was at fault.
- Medical records
Medical records of the parties involved in the accident are important evidence, as they can demonstrate the extent of injuries sustained by the parties.
- Photos and video
Photos and videos of the accident scene and the vehicles involved can help establish the cause of the accident and determine liability.
- Black box data
Many new vehicles have black boxes that record data about vehicle speed, acceleration, braking, and other factors. Black box data is used to determine the accident’s cause.
- Expert testimony
Expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction specialists or medical experts can provide valuable testimony about the accident and its effects on the parties involved.
