The number of car accidents per year has been rising consistently. If you have been in one recently, you are not alone because there are millions like you. Even if you are really good at driving, you may still have an accident due to someone else’s negligence. Or you may even be just crossing the street and get hit by a speeding vehicle. As an accident victim, you need to know your rights because personal injury law comes to the rescue of people who get injured due to the negligence of others.
Simple as it may sound, getting compensation under this law can be complex because there is much that you need as evidence to prove the negligence of the guilty driver and extent of damages and injuries. What are the pieces of evidence that can make all the difference in getting you a fair settlement or trial? How do they strengthen your personal injury case? Here are the types of evidence that you gather to build a case in the first place.
Car accident police report
The car accident police report is a detailed report that records all the key factors and information about the accident. It is prepared by an investigating officer who comes to the accident site. Since the information in the report is critical to get a rightful claim, you must ensure that the official records all of it and puts everything on paper. Typically, an accident police report must state the following:
- Date, time and location of the accident
- Weather conditions when the accident occurred
- Roadway conditions at the accident site
- Statement of the victim, guilty driver and everyone involved in the mishap
- Insurance information about the people involved in the accident
- Information and statements shared by the eyewitnesses
- The parts of the vehicles damaged in the accident
- Law violations involved in the accident, if any
- The officer’s opinion about the cause and fault
Medical reports of the injury
Another important piece of evidence that can drive your case is the medical reports of the injury. After all, you can claim compensation only if you have sustained injuries during the accident. Moreover, the greater the degree of injury, the higher the claim value. Seasoned Accident Injury Attorneys can, in fact, can even help you claim compensation for mental suffering and trauma in addition to physical injury. However, you need to have the right documents to prove the injury and its extent. Essentially, these include the doctor’s statement in addition to the diagnostic reports and treatment-related prescriptions. In case you need advanced treatments such as surgery, you need documents and related bills as well.
Photos and videos from the accident site
When an accident occurs, you should be alert enough to gather first-hand evidence from the accident site. This is something that the police will also do once they arrive. The best way to gather the key evidence is by clicking photos and videos, which you can easily do with your cell phone camera. Cover the injuries and damage to your vehicle and belongings as these make solid evidence for your case. You can ask someone to take pictures and videos for you in case you cannot do it yourself due to shock and injuries. The police will do it as a part of their protocol.
Testimonies of the eyewitnesses
Another piece of evidence that can make a big difference in securing favorable compensation in personal injury cases is the testimony of the eyewitnesses. They can increase the awareness of the jury and the insurance company in the context of what actually happened at the accident site, who was responsible and what kind of injuries were sustained by the victim. Though the police will record the contact details of the witnesses, you should also collect the information on your own behalf in case you need to connect with them during the proceedings of the claim.
Having the right kinds of evidence enhances your chances of getting a favorable claim to a considerable extent. So, you need to ensure that you preserve all the evidence that is important for tilting the case in your favor. Besides these pieces of evidence, you should also keep the bills for repairs of your vehicles and property that are damaged during the accident. Also, it is best to consult an expert personal injury lawyer to handle every aspect of your compensation claim. They know best how to preserve and leverage every single piece of evidence to get you a compensation claim that you rightfully deserve.
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