Car accidents are devastating, resulting in injuries and loss of property. In addition to the physical and emotional stress, victims often face financial hardship from medical bills, auto repair or replacement costs, and lost wages from being unable to work.
Lawyers facilitate all communication with insurance representatives to prevent their clients from accidentally compromising their case or accepting a low settlement offer. They are skilled negotiators and will fight to get you what you deserve. Contact Baltimore Car Accident Attorney now!
- Documenting Your Injuries
Obtain copies of all medical documentation related to your injuries, including hospital discharge summaries, test results, diagnostic reports, and treatment plans. Detailed medical records help to establish the severity of your injury and the impact that it has had on your life. Also, medical bills, invoices, and receipts can provide concrete evidence of the financial burden associated with your care.
Keep a journal that describes your physical and emotional well-being after the accident. Your journal should include your daily pain levels, new symptoms, and how your injuries have impacted your work and social life. This evidence can help your attorney fill out and strengthen your insurance claim and support a personal injury case in court.
Documenting your car accident injuries is essential to securing the compensation you deserve. While your lawyer can investigate the incident and acquire all available evidence, your efforts to capture photographic proof and keep detailed medical records will significantly enhance the quality of your case.
Take several photos of your injury and the scene of the accident. Taking photographs at the time of the crash will allow you to clearly record any visible damage to your vehicle, other vehicles involved in the accident, and any other potential evidence. Similarly, if there is any damage to nearby buildings or other property—or any spilled cargo from a truck—you should immediately get pictures of that as well.
- Collecting Evidence
When a car accident takes place, evidence plays a critical role in establishing fault and determining the extent of damages. A judge or jury won’t be present at the scene to make a determination on the case, so they will rely on the evidence that is presented to them to decide what happened and how much you should be compensated for your injuries.
There are many different forms of evidence that can be collected after a car accident, but some of the most important are photos and videos of the crash scene and any damage, eyewitness testimony, police reports and medical records. It is important to document all of this information as soon as possible after the accident so that it is not lost or misplaced.
Take as many photos of the scene and any damage as you can, making sure to capture all angles of the vehicles and any other relevant items. Also, try to get the contact information of any witnesses that you can. Their statements will be extremely helpful in establishing what happened and who was responsible for the collision.
Finally, don’t forget about the area around the accident site as well. The positioning of nearby buildings or the landscaping of a home or business may have played an important role in how the crash occurred, so it’s a good idea to write down or record information about this.
If you can, it is a good idea to get video footage of the crash from a local security camera as well. This is a powerful piece of evidence that can often be deleted if you don’t act fast, so it’s best to request and collect this from the authorities as quickly as possible.
- Gathering Witnesses
Among the most powerful pieces of evidence in a car accident case are witness statements. These can provide a clear picture of what actually happened in the crash, giving your attorney negotiating power and a strong argument in court. They can also highlight important details that might otherwise go unnoticed. For instance, witnesses can catch sight of a hidden road sign or note that one of the drivers was distracted by their phone. Witnesses can also help balance out conflicting accounts by providing unbiased, independent perspectives.
Witness statements should be recorded as soon as possible after the accident, while events are still fresh in everyone’s minds. This can be done through a phone call or an in-person meeting. The questions asked of a witness should be open-ended to encourage them to share their full account of the incident. It is best to avoid leading questions, which can unintentionally influence their memory of the event. It is also helpful to elicit sensory information, such as what they heard, smelled, and felt during the crash.
A key factor to remember is that a witness statement should be based on their firsthand observations of the accident. Speculation or repeating what they overheard can be considered hearsay in court and will not be admissible as evidence.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may not have any third-party witnesses to gather from. This doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in a claim, but it is important to take the time to document all aspects of the scene of the crash, including skid marks and damage to vehicles, as well as your injuries. It is also a good idea to take photos of the surrounding environment, such as signs, fire hydrants, and any other factors that could be relevant.
- Getting Medical Attention
There are several reasons why getting medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident is important. The first is that it will ensure that any injuries you have are properly documented. The second reason is that it will help prevent complications from developing. The third is that it will show the insurance company that you are taking your injuries seriously. Finally, it will help you build a strong claim for compensation that includes coverage of your medical expenses, loss of income, property damage, and pain and suffering.
In addition, if you have an auto policy with personal injury protection (PIP), you may have a limited window of time within which to seek medical treatment. Failure to see a doctor within that time frame could invalidate your PIP coverage and jeopardize your right to recover damages.
It’s also important to see a doctor even if you don’t feel any symptoms immediately after the accident. The stress of a car accident can cause your body to release adrenaline, which can mask pain and other symptoms. In some cases, injuries will not become evident until days or weeks after the crash.
Lastly, go to the clinic, but don’t follow through on your doctor’s orders to follow up with treatment. The insurance company might view it as an indication that your injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant emergency care and a high settlement. Consistent medical care shows that you are taking your injuries seriously and are committed to recovering fully from your accident. The attorneys at John Foy & Associates will review your medical records and other relevant information to determine the full scope of your losses and build a case that demonstrates your damages and entitlement to compensation.
- Talking to an Attorney
Car accident attorneys have years of experience dealing with insurance companies. They understand the nuances of policies and insurance coverage, which is crucial in getting you a maximum settlement.
They also know how to gather all the necessary evidence to support your claim, such as police reports, witness statements, medical records and bills, employment and loss wage information, and more. They may even work with accident reconstruction specialists to determine what actually happened and who is at fault in your crash.
Most importantly, an Accident Attorney will protect your legal rights. They will be your ally against the negligent party’s insurance company, which has one goal in mind: to reduce or reject your claim. They will not let that happen, and they will negotiate for you to get the compensation you deserve.
An experienced car accident attorney will have a strong sense of what your case is really worth, and they are incentivized to maximize that payout for you. Without a lawyer, you run the risk of settling for less than your injuries are worth or having your case dismissed because it was filed past the statute of limitations.
The best way to find out if a car accident attorney is the right fit for you is to schedule a free initial consultation with them. Most firms, including The Barnes Firm, offer these for free as a part of their commitment to help injured accident victims. This is the perfect opportunity to meet them, discuss your crash and any settlement offers you’ve received, and learn about your rights under New York law. Schedule yours today!