Car accidents are often messy scenes with bits and debris scattered everywhere. Making sense of all the chaos might seem impossible, but that is where you find evidence.
You need evidence to back up your claims when taking legal action for damages after a car accident. Evidence often comes straight from the accident scene, but it might also come from some other surprising places. Witnesses who may or may not have been present for the crash might have valuable information, and various records may shed light on who is responsible. Once we know what kind of evidence you need for your claim, we must work on obtaining it. While certain things, such as your medical records, are easily within our grasp, other evidence might take more work and investigation.
Speak to our Georgia car accident attorneys at Howe Law to schedule a free review of your claims by calling (844) 876-4357
Where Evidence for Georgia Car Accident Claims Comes From
Where your evidence comes from is a big question, and the answer varies between cases. For many, much of their evidence comes right from the scene of the accident. For others, accident scenes are cleared away quickly, and evidence is lost. Speak with a lawyer about your case as soon as possible so you can gather important evidence before it is too late.
The Accident Scene
The scene of the accident might be full of evidence. The trick is obtaining this evidence before law enforcement clears the scene away. While physical evidence might be lost, we can at least try and preserve the scene in photos and videos.
After an accident, you should take as many photos and videos of the scene as you can. This is common in car accident cases where drivers need evidence to submit to an insurance company. While your photos and videos might be useful in an insurance claim, they can also be used as evidence in court.
The photos and videos might contain information in dispute in a lawsuit regarding the accident. For example, the other driver might claim that you crashed into them head-on, but the photos might reveal little to no damage to the front of your vehicle. Instead, they might show how the other driver damaged your car.
Witnesses
We can also get important evidence from witnesses. When talking about witnesses, most people probably think of eyewitnesses. An eyewitness is someone who saw your accident and can testify to what they saw. For example, an eyewitness might testify that they saw the other driver run a stop sign before hitting you in an intersection. If we can find multiple eyewitnesses from different vantage points, we can build a very strong case in your favor.
Not all witnesses are eyewitnesses, and some might not even have been at the accident scene. All a witness needs to testify is first-hand knowledge relevant to your case. For example, if we believe the defendant was drunk when they caused the accident, we might look for witnesses who knew they were drunk or saw them drinking. Bartenders or other bar patrons might be able to testify as witnesses.
In particularly complex crash cases, expert witnesses might be necessary. Accident reconstruction experts can take evidence from police reports and our own investigations and scientifically recreate how the accident occurred. This kind of information may help explain how the other driver caused the crash.
Records
Certain records can also be used as evidence in car accident cases. If you received medical attention after the accident, your medical records may be used as evidence to prove the extent of your injuries and damages. Getting to a hospital as soon as possible after the crash is important so your medical records are as thorough and accurate as possible.
Depending on the situation, other records might also be important. For example, if we believe the accident happened because of faulty car parts, we might need records from the mechanic that installed those car parts. The records might show the manufacturer and model of the car parts. We can use this information to determine if the parts were defective or if the mechanic negligently installed them.
How to Obtain Evidence for Your Georgia Car Accident Case
Now that we know what kind of evidence might be available, the next step is to figure out how to get it. As mentioned before, evidence can be fleeting, and we must act quickly so as to keep valuable evidence.
Recording the Scene
Recording the scene may help preserve all kinds of important details from the accident scene. You should take pictures and record videos from multiple vantage points in numerous places around the accident scene. Drivers often take pictures and record videos while waiting for emergency help to arrive.
If you cannot safely take pictures or record videos, others in the area might have done so, and we can try to obtain the photos or videos from them. Alternatively, there might have been security cameras in the area, and we can get those videos of the accident to use as evidence.
Even if you cannot make any recordings of the accident scene, you should still look around and be observant. Your own testimony about the accident may be very powerful, and it is important that you remember as much as possible from the scene.
Police Reports
If we have trouble finding evidence on our own, we can consult police reports from the accident. In many accident cases, especially those involving serious crashes and injuries, the police may investigate and write a full report of what they found. While police reports are usually inadmissible as evidence themselves, they might lead us to other evidence.
Call Our Georgia Car Accident Attorneys for Help
Schedule a free evaluation of your accident claims with our Georgia personal injury attorneys by calling Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
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