The linchpin of any car accident case is evidence. How do you prove who was at fault, what financial losses you have suffered, and how much compensation you deserve? You need compelling evidence.
The more evidence you can gather, the better your chances of filing a successful car accident claim. Unfortunately, when you are stressed, overwhelmed, or seriously injured, gathering crucial evidence to support your claim is typically the last thing you can do. At Christensen Law, we approach your case as trial lawyers and are focused on marshaling evidence for your case from our first conversation.
How Evidence Helps Your Car Accident Case
Cases are all about the evidence. You cannot build a solid car accident case without evidence. Juries must limit their deliberations to the evidence introduced in court. Evidence establishes liability, the severity of your injuries, and the value of your losses. An insurer or jury cannot make an informed or accurate decision about your case without persuasive evidence.
Medical documentation is the foundation of your car accident case. You can’t receive compensation for injuries if there is no record they exist. This evidence consists of your medical records. Treatment records document that your injury is serious enough to merit compensation and proves exactly what your injury is. As your treatment records accumulate over time, they demonstrate that your injury is serious.
Other evidence that can be crucial to a car accident claim includes:
- Police report
- Photographs and videos of the crash scene
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
- Cell phone records
- Surveillance video footage
- Pay stubs and tax returns, if applicable
- Receipts for accident-related losses, such as co-pays, hospital bills, and prescription medications
Some car accident evidence is easy to obtain. Other information can be more challenging to get your hands on. An experienced car accident attorney can gather the evidence needed to demonstrate why you deserve maximum compensation for your injuries as you recover.
How to Document Evidence at the Scene of a Car Accident
Documenting evidence at the scene of a car accident can be challenging if you suffer an injury or feel disoriented. Although the situation is stressful, try to remain calm and focused.
Here’s how you can help document evidence at a crash site:
First, check for injuries and contact the authorities. You must take care of yourself and others. Check for injuries and call 911 if necessary. Your health and safety always come first.
Gather contact and insurance information. Once you know everyone is safe, exchange information with every driver involved in the collision. You will need each person’s:
- Legal name
- Phone number
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
- Vehicle make, model, and color
- Other identifying information about the vehicle, such as bumper stickers or window tint
- Insurance policy information
- Insurance company contact information
Photograph the scene. Take extensive photos of the accident scene. Photographs can help investigators and experts recreate how the accident happened. Photos and videos can also capture the crash’s immediate aftermath and cannot be distorted the way a witness’s memories might become over time.
When taking photographs of the crash site, keep these helpful tips in mind:
- Take photos from multiple angles.
- Take pictures from different distances.
- Include shots of the surrounding area, including skid marks, broken glass, street signs, traffic signals, or construction zones.
- Photograph the inside of your vehicle, especially if there is interior damage or your airbag deployed.
- Get pictures of your injuries.
- Photograph the damage to both vehicles and each car’s license plate.
Talk to witnesses. Accident scenes tend to attract a crowd. Ask bystanders whether they saw what happened. Eyewitness testimony can help substantiate your accident claim. Ask potential witnesses to describe what they saw in their own words. Take notes or ask to record their statements. Always ask witnesses for their contact information in case you have more questions. An attorney may also want to follow up with potential witnesses.
What should you do if you can’t talk to witnesses at the scene? Try returning to the crash site on another day at the same time the crash occurred. When you return at the same time of day, you might find someone whose regular routine puts them in that location and who may have seen the collision. You can also ask if anyone knows someone who may have information about the crash.
Request a copy of the police report. An official accident report can contain crucial information about law enforcement’s impressions of how the accident occurred. A police report may also include critical details about the scene you may have missed, especially if serious injuries meant you needed immediate transportation to the hospital by ambulance.
Seek medical attention. Obtaining medical care as soon as possible and keeping all follow-up appointments with healthcare professionals is a top priority. First, if you are injured, then you require medical care. Second, medical documentation is at the heart of a strong car accident claim. Without official medical records, an insurer will not pay for your medical expenses and will deny your claim. You need proof of your injury and that the injury resulted from a car accident.
Keep all bills and receipts. Medical bills, repair estimates, pay stubs, and receipts for out-of-pocket costs related to the crash and the treatment of your injuries will be essential to establish the value of your claim. Keep these documents in a safe place and separate from your other bills.
Contact a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer Today
Does the process of collecting evidence after a car accident seem daunting? Talk to an experienced Michigan car accident attorney from Christensen Law. Our legal team can help you gather the evidence you need to build a convincing case for maximum compensation. With our attorneys on your case, you won’t have to worry about organizing paperwork and searching for crucial information about the collision. We’ll take care of that so you can rest and focus on your recovery.
Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
