A serious car accident can lead to exorbitant healthcare costs, and many victims are unable to earn an income while they recover. Fortunately, if you were injured or lost a family member in a collision, you may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
Strong evidence is the key to winning your claim. If you intend to pursue damages from the liable party’s insurance company (as opposed to your own no-fault insurance provider), you will need evidence to prove liability, causation, and damages.
Read on to learn a few kinds of evidence that might contribute to your case:
1. The Official Police Report
Before leaving the scene, write down the names and badge numbers of the officers who responded to your call. This information can help your attorney obtain a copy of the accident report. Your lawyer may also want to question the responding officers.
2. Statements from Eyewitnesses
If nearby motorists, passengers, cyclists, or pedestrians saw the collision, ask for their names and phone numbers so your legal team can reach out and interview them. If your case proceeds to discovery, eyewitness deposition might serve as valuable evidence.
3. Photographs of the Scene
An accident reconstruction expert may be brought in to determine how the crash occurred in order to establish liability. Their investigation will involve a careful analysis of photos taken of the scene, if such photos are available. When taking pictures, be sure to capture both small and large details from multiple angles including weather conditions, traffic patterns, skid marks, and broken glass.
4. Dash Cam and Surveillance Footage
Purchasing a dash cam for your vehicle could end up paying for itself many times over in the event of an accident. If you don’t have a dash cam yet, there’s a good chance the collision was captured by a dash cam in another vehicle. The accident may also have been recorded by nearby surveillance cameras.
5. Toxicology Reports
If impairment played a role in the accident, the results of any chemical tests conducted at the scene (or shortly thereafter) could prove integral to your case. Sometimes it is even possible to obtain punitive damages after a crash involving a drunk driver.
6. Cell Phone Records
If the at-fault driver was using a mobile device just prior to the wreck, his or her cell phone records may help your attorney prove liability. Since the cell phone service provider might not release these records voluntarily, your legal team may have to file a subpoena to obtain them.
Call 716-855-3761 to Discuss Your Case with a New York Car Accident Attorney
If you were hurt in a collision through no fault of your own, contact LoTempio P.C. Law Group to determine how best to proceed. Our attorneys have more than 200 years of combined experience in the legal field. Call 716-855-3761 or send a message on our Online Contact Form to arrange a free case evaluation with a New York car accident lawyer.