When fault is unclear in a car accident case, evidence is a useful tool to prove liability. Gathering evidence on your own can be difficult, especially if you are still recovering from your injuries.
Fortunately, an auto accident lawyer could help gather evidence and access official documents to help prove your case. Call The Warren Firm today to speak with an attorney about collecting evidence for a Charlottesville car accident case.
Before filing an auto wreck case, plaintiffs should gather all documents related to the accident and their injuries. Legal counsel may begin by reviewing the police report and the injured party’s medical records.
Depending on the case, it may also be helpful to request the officer’s field notes or conduct an interview about the accident report. Additionally, eyewitness testimony from passengers or pedestrians should be collected as soon as possible.
Photographs and videos from the scene of the crash can also be crucial pieces of evidence. Relevant media could include pictures of skid marks, road signs, car damage, and traffic camera footage. A local attorney who focuses on car accidents could work diligently to collect evidence for your case.
One of the most important factors in a personal injury case is establishing negligence or proving who is at fault for an accident. Though in some cases it may be easy to determine liability, in more complex cases, evidence may be able to help prove a motorist’s negligence. For instance, if two drivers involved in a crash at an intersection both claimed they had a green light, traffic cameras could determine who did not have the right of way, and therefore, was responsible for the collision.
In a car wreck trial, a defendant may be asked to answer interrogatories, which are written questions about how the accident occurred. The driver defendant may also be deposed. A deposition may be the plaintiff’s counsel’s only opportunity to ask questions of the defendant before trial. In these depositions, at-fault parties may attempt to place blame on the plaintiff, the injured party.
According to state contributory negligence laws, injured parties who are partially responsible for an accident are barred from recovering damages. An experienced lawyer could use evidence to prove you are not responsible for your auto wreck.
Collecting evidence can be a lengthy process. It is important to be thorough when searching for relevant information about a case.
Attorneys often begin gathering evidence as soon as they are retained and continue until 30 days before trial. A lawyer nearby could make sure all important evidence is uncovered before the trial for a car accident case.
In a civil case, all parties must have the same information. This means that legal counsel may not surprise the court with new evidence during the trial. Lawyers have the opportunity to review the other party’s evidence during the discovery phase.
Once the attorneys share evidence in discovery, they must admit their case information into court. A legal professional could prepare all relevant evidence and introduce it during the trial.
Evidence can have a significant impact on the outcome of a personal injury case. Failing to provide substantial evidence that proves that a third party is liable could prevent you from recovering damages.
Reach out to an attorney who could assist you during the process of collecting evidence for a Charlottesville car accident case. Call our office today to find out what a legal professional could do for you.
