Generally speaking, when you see car accident cases or criminal investigations involving them on TV or in the movies, it tends to be melodramatic and overtly exaggerated. However, one thing rings true in both Hollywood and reality, and that is you can’t successfully prove a case without some solid car accident evidence. This applies to a wide variety of cases, including both car accidents and personal injury claims.
Video and photo car accident proof can be vital to dispelling the defense of the other party and proving your car accident claim. These kinds of evidence can also give you a helpful advantage when the insurance company involved is disputing their liability or fault in your case. Whoever is at fault for the accident should pay any damages you received because of it, including your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, mental anguish, and emotional distress. If you haven’t taken the time to gather your car accident evidence and spoken with a competent car crash attorney about your accident, there’s no better time than the present to get started.
Determination of Liability
Liability, or fault, is an essential part of any car accident claim. When it comes to proving fault, video evidence or photos of the scene can prove essential in getting you to the outcome you want. Depending on who was involved, footage from a dashcam could be available and would be vital car accident proof in your case. Videos from dashcams are beneficial because they provide a clear perspective of the collision as it happened, serving as solid car accident evidence of how everything occurred. If your case goes to trial, the footage from cameras and photos taken at the scene are likely to become part of the case.
Photographs do not generally provide as much information as a well-shot video does, but they can still serve as vital pieces of personal injury evidence in your claim. These may provide the visual representations of the damage sustained by you, your car, and other property as a result of the accident and can back up the statements you’ve made during your claim process.
With most mobile phones having video and photo capabilities, it’s possible a witness was able to get footage of your accident if you were incapable of doing so at the time. In some cases, photos can even provide the car accident evidence that becomes the final piece of the liability puzzle that allows investigators to confidently determine which party ultimately caused the accident.
Demonstrating the Accident’s Severity
In personal injury and motor vehicle accident cases, insurance companies will often try to downplay the accident’s severity, because this means they don’t have to write as large of a check as they would as a result of a severe accident. If, however, you are lucky enough to have a video recording of the accident, it will show how violent the crash was, if it happened at a high rate of speed, and if you were able to witness any recklessness by the other driver who caused the accident.
Similarly, good videos or photos of the incident can be the personal injury evidence that showcases the amount of damage to the vehicles and any surrounding property, supporting your injury claim. Whether it’s right or wrong, for many insurance adjusters, seeing car accident proof of extensive property damage can prompt the acceptance of more serious injury claims. The better you’re able to demonstrate the accident to those who weren’t involved, the better off you’ll be in your case.
Keep Your Evidence Safe
Car accident claims often take an extended period of time to resolve, with many cases going on for months or even years before they are eventually settled. With this in mind, it’s important to keep all video and photo car accident evidence you may have of your accident and the damage to your property safe by properly storing it and forwarding it to your car crash attorney. Your attorney will use this evidence as part of your case, and he or she will need it if your case has to go to trial.
All of your evidence and documentation regarding the case and your losses associated with it should be sent to your attorney, even if you’re not certain of its relevance. Your attorney will review everything and determine what will be used and what isn’t needed. If you or someone you know was recently in an auto accident and has personal injury evidence, but no legal representation, the team at Feldman & Lee PS are here to help. Contact us to get started and learn more about the possible outcomes of your case today.