Car accidents are behind many emergency room visits, serious injuries, and deaths in Texas. They are also one of the most common types of personal injury claims in Laredo. If you need to file a claim to pursue financial compensation for a recent automobile accident in Texas, it will be up to you to meet the burden of proof. This requires compelling evidence.
A Police Report
Calling 911 at the scene of an accident to report the crash is important for many reasons, one of which is documenting the accident for insurance purposes. A police report can provide a key piece of evidence, as it can contain details such as:
- The names of the drivers involved
- The directions both vehicles were traveling
- A description of injuries
- The officer’s opinion as to the cause of the crash
A car insurance company will typically ask for a copy of the police report during a car accident claim. You can obtain a copy by providing the local police precinct with your report number.
Photographic Evidence
If you can, take pictures of the crash scene before you leave. Be sure to capture any visible property damage to either vehicle, the crash scene as a whole, road signs and markings, and the current weather conditions. Crash scene photographs can help reconstruction experts re-create the accident and understand what happened.
Search for video footage of the car accident, as well. This may include nearby surveillance camera footage, traffic cameras, dashcams, or GoPros. Any video recordings of the car accident can help you prove fault.
Eyewitness Statements
Eyewitnesses, or people who saw the crash occur, can provide information that others might not have about how and why the crash happened. A witness may have seen the other driver texting and driving, for example, which can be used as evidence of fault. Write down eyewitness names and contact information to gather statements from them later.
Medical Records
Injury documentation is just as important as evidence of fault when it comes to proving a car accident claim in Texas. An insurance company will need proof of your injuries and related expenses before it will issue a settlement. Keep copies of your medical records, x-rays, test results, hospital bills, wage statements and other records related to your injuries.
Go to a hospital immediately after your car accident for professional medical care. Do not delay in seeking treatment, as this could harm your physical health as well as hurt your claim. Take pictures of your injuries as they heal and consider keeping an injury journal, where you document your pain and suffering.
Blackbox Data
Certain car accidents – especially those involving commercial vehicles – can have related black box evidence. The black box is an electronic data recorder attached to a vehicle that records pertinent information, such as the speed of the vehicle, the driver’s braking patterns, the vehicle’s maintenance logs and engine performance. Accessing a vehicle’s black box can provide evidence to support a Laredo car accident claim.
Expert Testimony
Many car accident cases can benefit from the use of experts to provide testimony on a specialized subject. An expert witness can be hired during a claim to help prove issues such as fault, negligence or the extent of the victim’s injuries. Experts can explain nuanced subjects to insurance companies or juries, and craft car accident reconstruction diagrams to establish liability.
How to Preserve Evidence for Your Texas Car Accident Claim
Do what you can to gather evidence while you are still at the scene of a car accident in Texas. Take pictures and speak with eyewitnesses. Get prompt medical care and document your injuries. Then, contact a local car accident lawyer for assistance with evidence preservation and collection. A lawyer can go to work on gathering evidence to prove your claim while you focus on healing.