What Experts Say You Should Know?
Preserving and Protecting Evidence in a Car Accident Case
In the event that the insurance company is disputing the responsibility of the driver, there could be a significant gap between their offer and your total damages. This is particularly true when the insurance company blames the crash on some other factor than your negligence.
During this time, your team will ask for information from the opposing side via interrogatories and depositions. These questions will be posed to the other driver, as witnesses.
Preservation of Evidence
The evidence you've gathered during a car crash can boost your chances of winning settlement or receive damages. auto accident lawyer antioch is important to preserve and protect any evidence that you may have after a car accident.
Thanks to the advances in technology, this is more simple than ever. Smartphones can be used to take high-quality pictures and videos of the scene of the accident. These tools can help you capture evidence that would otherwise be lost or destroyed.
The most important pieces of evidence include the actual crash site as well as any witnesses. Ideally, you should take a photo of the accident scene as it was prior to the collision. This includes all the vehicles involved in a crash as well as any skidmarks or marks on the road, the conditions of the weather or traffic signs, and other factors that are relevant.
You may also want to contact local businesses to ask them to keep any evidence relevant to your case. For example, if you were struck by a car then requesting that the black box of the truck be preserved could be beneficial to your claim.
It may also be helpful to request the test for the drug of the other driver if you suspect that they were intoxicated or taking drugs. These tests could reveal that the driver was drunk or distracted which could be a strong indication of their culpability in creating an accident.
Documenting Your Injuries
Documentation is vital in personal injury cases. This will not only ensure that your healthcare provider is aware of your condition, but it will also aid your attorney in proving your damages and losses when making a claim against the liable party for negligence.
Medical records are one of the most essential types of documents. Whenever you visit your doctor for treatment after an accident, request to be given copies of every document. These records are used to describe your injuries, symptoms, and diagnoses. These records also document the expenses you have incurred because of the accident. This is important as a lot of these expenses are reimbursable as part of your compensation claim.
It's also recommended to keep a record of your mental and physical state after the accident. This should include the kind of pain you feel and the location it occurs and how long it lasts. It is also crucial to document any mental trauma you may be suffering from, as juries will often decide to award damages that are not economic in kind of incident.
If you're able to and able, it's also beneficial to get photographs of your injuries and the scene of the crash. You can take photos of the car you are driving, the other vehicles that were involved in the crash and any other damages to objects (such a building or a sign). It is recommended to take several photographs of each object from different angles and distances so that investigators can clearly identify the accident's reason for the accident.
Collecting witness statements
In the ideal situation, witness statements should be obtained as soon as possible after an accident. Keep in mind that memory loss occurs as time passes. It is best to have witnesses provide their statements as quickly as they can. The more details you are able to provide the more detail you can provide, the better. It is also recommended to record any interview with a witnesses (with their consent, of course), as this will help ensure that the testimony of the witness is true.
You should also look for witnesses who aren't located in the immediate vicinity of your accident. For example, you might be able to ask those working at local businesses if they witnessed your car accident. This could result in footage of your incident being recorded on a store security camera.
You should also ensure that any statements made by potential witnesses do not contain thoughts, feelings or speculations regarding the outcomes of the accident or feelings of sympathy for you or the other victims. These statements can hurt your credibility, particularly when they are contradicted by other witnesses. It is recommended to not request testimony from any person who knows the person who is at blame for your injuries, or has a connection with their employer, as they could attempt to influence your claim in favor of the company they represent. You may not get the amount of compensation you need if this is the situation.
Contacting an Attorney
When you are evaluating an attorney, consider whether they have the resources to conduct thorough investigation into your crash. This could include examining the scene of the crash and interviewing witnesses, and gathering other evidence of the accident and your injuries.
After your lawyer has reviewed all the documentation they can collect, they will begin a settlement negotiation process with the insurance company for the driver who is at fault. The purpose of this negotiation is to secure an acceptable settlement without the need for a trial. Your attorney could negotiate with the insurance company several times before settling on a settlement.
The severity of your injury will have a significant impact on the amount of compensation you receive. Acute injuries are often the cause of more expensive medical bills and long-lasting effects that require more extensive care. Some car accident victims may require surgery to correct long-term injury damages. These expenses will be included in the total economic damage.
Your attorney will also take into consideration the medical needs of your future as well as the decreased quality of life caused by your injuries. For instance, if you are permanently injured during a collision that resulted in the need for a remodel of your home to allow you to access all areas of it and also the cost of doing this could be included in your non-economic damages.