What Evidence Should I Gather After a Car Accident?

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What Evidence Should I Gather After a Car Accident?While every car accident claim is unique, all those that yield a payout have at least one thing in common: strong evidence. Whether you were sideswiped by an 18-wheeler or rear-ended by an SUV, you’ll need evidence to prove liability, causation, and damages to pursue a favorable settlement or verdict.

Since much of the evidence needed to support your claim may not be available indefinitely, it’s wise to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after the wreck. A resourceful attorney will be able to help you obtain the following:

1. Eyewitness Statements

While eyewitness deposition is not considered irrefutable evidence, it could contribute to the strength of your case by corroborating your own version of events. If you gathered the contact details of the motorists, passengers, cyclists, and/or pedestrians who saw the wreck, your legal team can reach out to them and find out if their deposition would be useful. If you failed to record their contact info, don’t worry; their names and phone numbers may be included in the official police report.

2. Video Footage

If the accident was captured by surveillance cameras overlooking the scene, your attorney can apply the legal pressure needed to try to obtain a copy of the footage. It may also be possible to get dash cam footage of the crash from motorists who were in the vicinity at the time. Since the owners of any such footage are under no obligation to preserve it, though, you’ll have to reach out before they overwrite it.

3. Medical Records

Your legal team will need any relevant hospital records, diagnostic images, prescriptions, and rehabilitation logs. To give your case the best chance of success, seek adequate care as soon as possible.

Even if you feel relatively fine in the aftermath, it is advisable to undergo a comprehensive evaluation right away because shock and adrenaline could be masking signs of trouble. What’s more, there are a number of impact injuries that may not manifest any symptoms for days or even weeks. If left untreated, however, serious complications could arise.

Should you fail to seek prompt medical care and suffer complications as a result, your medical records will indicate as much. If this happens, Michigan’s modified comparative fault rule may apply.

Under this rule, the compensation to which a plaintiff is entitled can be reduced by his or her own percentage of liability. And those who are deemed more than 50 percent responsible are barred from recovering any non-economic damages at all.

Call (248) 385-5704 to Discuss Your Case with a Detroit Car Accident Lawyer

At Seva Law Firm, we understand the emotional and financial toll that unanticipated injuries can take on the whole family. If you were hurt in a wreck through no fault of your own, let us handle the logistics of your case so you can focus on recovering.

We will use all the resources at our disposal to gather the evidence needed to pursue the highest compensation possible. Call (248) 385-5704 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Detroit.