The accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm can help you pursue a claim for compensation if you have been injured in a car crash that was not your fault. We do this by negotiating with insurance companies or making a case in court on your behalf. We develop strong cases by gathering and preserving evidence that supports the facts of your legal claim.
As a car accident victim, you can help place yourself in a better position to obtain the compensation you deserve for medical expenses and other losses by preserving evidence in your car accident case. Some evidence can be lost forever if not preserved soon after an accident, so it is very helpful to contact a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a wreck to obtain assistance and instruction in what you should do to bolster a possible legal claim.
Joye Law Firm offers some information below about the importance of preserving evidence in car accident cases. We can also help you get started in a telephone conversation and free initial legal consultation. Call Joye Law Firm. We’re at (888) 324-3100 or we can be reached through this online contact form.
Gather Car Crash Evidence While It’s Still There
There are many pieces of evidence that go into developing and presenting a successful personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit after a car accident. Some information, like data from a car accident reconstruction, may be obtained on your behalf by professionals on the Joye Law Firm legal team.
A lot of important evidence in a car accident case can be found only at the crash scene, and it is best obtained by a crash victim acting quickly. If you have been seriously injured in a car crash, you should seek immediate medical help. But, if you can, gather evidence at the scene of your wreck, such as:
- Pictures of the cars involved and their damage, skid marks, debris, broken glass, property damage to road signs, guardrails, landscape, and any road defects or construction work that may have contributed to the accident.
- Pictures of your injuries.
- Video of a driver who appears to be impaired. (Be careful about approaching such a driver. Always remain polite and avoid confrontation after a car accident.)
- Contact information for drivers, passengers and witnesses.
Additional information that should be preserved as evidence as soon as possible after a car accident includes:
- Police report. You usually need to report your car accident to police to file an insurance claim. You should ask the responding officer when and how the report will be available, and be sure to get it as soon as you can.
- Car maintenance records. These may demonstrate that the wreck was not caused by a failure of your vehicle, or in some cases be evidence that, in fact, a faulty product was a contributing factor in a car accident.
- Medical records and receipts. Save everything connected to your injuries and recovery and the cost of all medical treatment, including receipts for prescription and over-the-counter mediation related to your injuries. These expenses are losses you want to be reimbursed for, and medical records will serve as evidence of the extent of your injuries.
- Work absence records. Part of the compensation you may seek in a claim is reimbursement for lost income due to your injuries.
Evidence that your car accident attorneys may obtain and preserve for you includes but is not limited to:
- Cell phone records. Evidence that a driver was texting or talking on a cell phone could provide the basis for a distracted driving claim.
- Calls to 911. A call to 911 may show what was happening just after an accident. A driver’s voice and demeanor in a 911 call could be evidence of drunk driving. A driver could admit responsibility for an accident in a frantic 911 call. Calls to 911 are preserved for a limited time, so they must be obtained quickly – another reason to contact a car accident lawyer ASAP after your accident.
- Event data recorder (“black box” recorder). In certain models of passenger cars and trucks and in all large commercial trucks, an event data recorder (EDR) contains a variety of information about the vehicle’s speed, braking and steering prior to a crash.
- Vehicle recall reports. The possibility of recalls on all vehicles and parts involved in the crash should be explored. If a vehicle or parts manufacturer is responsible for a malfunction or defect that played a role in the crash, they may be held accountable.
Your attorneys should have experience with car accident cases that gives them the knowledge of what evidence to look for and the importance of obtaining and preserving it. Some important evidence may require a court order to obtain. Again, preserving these kinds of evidence in a car accident usually requires timely action by an experienced attorney.
Talk Our South Carolina Car Accident Lawyers Today
The car accident lawyers at Joye Law Firm have conducted thorough investigations of many car accidents in the North Charleston, Clinton, Columbia and Myrtle Beach areas and elsewhere in South Carolina. Find out how we can help you with your car accident claim.
Call Joye Law Firm if you or a loved one of yours has been injured in a South Carolina car accident. Call (888) 324-3100 today or submit our online contact form.
