After a car, accident, one of the most important things you will need is evidence. Evidence is used to establish liability, and liability determines who will have to pay for damages. A car accident attorney in San Antonio should be your first call after a wreck to protect yourself and help you gather and use all the important evidence you will need.
From a Car Accident Attorney in San Antonio: What Evidence You’ll Need in a Car Accident
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence could be anything from parts of the cars to each car’s “little black box” that records driver behavior and what was happening with the car at the time of the accident. Other physical evidence could include the video from a dash cam or from a nearby traffic camera and pictures of the accident scene. Learn more here about how an experienced lawyer can help you use evidence effectively in a car accident claim.
Witness Testimony
The second type of evidence frequently essential in a car accident claim is the testimony of witnesses. These may be passengers in one of the vehicles, other drivers, or bystanders. In most cases, the testimony of a passenger riding in your car will hold a little less weight (in legal terms, be “less credible”) than the testimony of a bystander or driver who was not involved in the accident. This is simply because it can be assumed that a passenger in your car is likely a friend or family member and therefore may not be as objective as a neutral third-party.
Police Reports
When the police arrive at an accident scene, they will do an initial investigation and write up a report. The police are trained to evaluate the evidence at an accident scene to determine fault, and they will note in their report who they believe is at fault and to what degree. These reports are usually very important in a car accident claim; however, they are not unassailable proof of liability. Since the police were not actually present at the accident in most cases, they are giving an educated guess only, and it may be possible to counter this with physical evidence or witness testimony.
Receipts for Damages
It’s not enough that the other party caused an accident: it must be shown that this accident was the direct cause of losses and damages to you and exactly what those losses and damages were. You will need receipts for everything that you have had to pay for as a result of the accident. You will, of course, want to show your medical records and bills, but there are plenty of other things you may want to consider claiming. You may have lost wages if you could not work, may have lost valuable personal property in the accident, and may have incurred special expenses, such as childcare costs if your injuries kept you from caring for your children, as you normally would.
If you’ve been in a car accident, the best move is to contact a lawyer quickly. A good lawyer will know exactly what evidence you’ll need and can help you find it.
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