A car accident can turn your life upside down. One moment you are doing everything you should to stay safe on the road. Then next, you are in a life and death situation. If you are hurt in an accident that was not your fault, you may be eligible for compensation for your injury, property damage and other losses.
However, like in any legal matter, your car accident claim will be won or lost on account of evidence. In other words, the burden of proof is usually on the injury victim in a car accident case. So what evidence do you need to prove fault in your car accident claim?
Here are three kinds of evidence you can provide to prove that the defendant was indeed responsible for the accident that resulted in your injury.
Eyewitness testimony
It is not uncommon for each party in the accident to have their own version of the story, and there may be a lot of finger-pointing involved.
One of the most effective ways of supporting your account of the accident is to provide eyewitness statements that will corroborate your version of the events. An eyewitness account can provide crucial evidence when proving your right to compensation. This is why it is important that you gather information from eyewitnesses as soon as possible.
Police reports
You can also use the police report as evidence in your case. Generally, law enforcement will visit the scene of the accident if injuries and damages have occurred. Upon arrival at the scene, the police will carry out their investigation, assess the damage, interview witnesses and create a crash report. Usually, this report contains the police’s assessment of who might have been responsible for the accident.
Photos
A photo can really be worth a thousand words — and thousands in compensation. If possible, take photos of the damage to the car, the accident scene, the road conditions and your injuries.
Car accident claims, like other legal processes, rely on evidence to determine fault. If you are involved in a car accident, it is important that you gather as much evidence as you can, and as soon as possible, to help you strengthen your case.
