Car accidents are one of the most common causes of accident-related mortality in the United States. Most incidents result from violations of traffic regulations that put everyone on the road in grave danger and can result in potentially fatal injuries. According to the official statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were nearly 10,000 deaths due to car accidents in the United States in the first quarter of the current year.
If you or your loved one got involved in a car accident that resulted from someone else’s negligence, you might be able to file a lawsuit against them to obtain financial compensation for your damages. Providing evidence for your damages is one of the most important steps for any car accident lawsuit. Read on as we discuss the types of evidence required to prove damages in car accident lawsuits.
Photo & Video Evidence
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Photo and video evidence are crucial to any lawsuit, and car accident lawsuits are no exception. Visual documentation of the site of the incident should be performed as soon as possible. It can include detailed photos and videos of your physical injuries, damage to the vehicles involved, the position of the vehicles, and photos documenting the weather conditions at the accident site. These are the most helpful as they can identify how the accident happened or who caused it.
Police Reports
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A police report is an official document that details the case from the point of view of the responding officer of law enforcement and contains information about the drivers, their vehicles, the circumstances of the incident, and the contact information of any eyewitnesses. The police report also typically includes details related to any tickets issued by the police to any of the drivers involved in the incident. This is a reliable piece of evidence in a court of law. The report shows the exact times and accounts that will help to build your case in your favor.
Eyewitness Statements
Eyewitnesses who have seen the accident in real-time can provide invaluable information that can support your legal claim. You can use these statements to corroborate your version of the events as they unfolded and build an infallible defense against the defendant. You should collect the names and contact information of the eyewitnesses when you obtain their statements so they could be contacted in the future by your legal team. These statements are important to keep up with and always make sure they are as accurate as possible.
Medical Records
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Medical records not only document your physical injuries resulting from the car accident, but also describe the course of medical and surgical treatment, missed days of work, and other medical evidence that can be used to prove the extent and severity of your injuries in a court of law. Medical records are a highly reliable form of evidence that provides objective proof of your suffering. They will accurately portray the injuries you possibly sustained and keep track of how long you were there. They will also inform the court how much your medical expenses are, which is money you need to be owed back.
Other Documents
Depending on the specifics of your car accident case, your legal claim might be supported by other relevant documents, including insurance policy documents, incidental expenses, receipts for repair estimates, and more. It is important to stay organized and keep your documents in a place where they can be accessed easily for any future legal proceedings. Without these important documents, you won’t be able to present a case to your legal team or the court. If you want financial compensation, it’s best to keep track of all the details.
Conclusion
Understanding the types of evidence in a car accident lawsuit is important to obtain a successful outcome. The process of obtaining, compiling, and presenting such evidence can be challenging and time-consuming. If you or your loved one got injured in such an accident, you can hire a personal injury lawyer to ensure that no individual or entity would violate your legal rights.
