- September 25, 2024
- Tucker Law
- Car Accident Lawsuits
After being in a car accident and suffering injuries, filing a personal injury claim can help you recover losses. These can include mounting medical bills as well as the income from wages you have not received because you’ve had to miss work. To be able to recover damages from a lawsuit, however, you have to demonstrate that the other party is liable. That’s sometimes easier said than done. Aside from ensuring you have a copy of the police report and all of the records related to your injuries, you also need to know what evidence to gather at the scene of the accident.
The team of New York car accident attorneys at Tucker Lawyers can help you understand what you need to prove to be able to get compensation for your losses. If you’ve suffered injuries because of someone else’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you may be entitled to file a claim.
Call us at (516) 399-2364 to learn more about filing a personal injury claim after a car accident.
Evidence to Gather at the Scene
What to Watch for After the Accident
There will be lots of evidence to collect after the accident. To know what’s important, you want to put yourself in the mindset of a personal injury lawyer and think about what could help us prove you deserve compensation. Remember, the burden of proof is on you as the plaintiff to demonstrate that the other person was negligent and caused the crash.
One of the most important types of evidence to get at the scene is photos. A picture’s worth a thousand words, after all. Get clear shots of the vehicles involved in the car accident, the road, street signs, and anything else that provides an idea of how the accident occurred and who caused it.
You also need to get photos of your injuries. Bruises can fade in a few days, so being certain that you’ve documented what your injuries look like right after the collision can make a difference.
It’s also vital that you get witness testimonies. People who saw the accident can offer the truth about the crash, which can be very important as we begin putting your claim together.
Something else you need to do is to record your experience while it’s still fresh. You may think you’ll remember all the details, but a traumatic experience can actually affect your memory. If you have your phone with you, use a voice recording app or even your video feature to record exactly what you recall happening. A journal accounting of the experience and how it impacts your life can also be valuable to your personal injury attorneys.
The Importance of Each Type of Evidence
All this evidence is vital for proving that the other party is to blame for the accident. The photos of the road and the vehicles can offer insight into whether the other car tried to stop or was speeding. The point of impact also explains a lot about how the accident happened.
Images of your injuries offer a look at how hard you were hit and the kind of medical care you will need. That plays a substantial role in your claim.
Witness testimonies are some of the most important evidence you can gather at the scene. Witnesses offer an unbiased look at the accident and can provide the corroborating evidence you need to get fair compensation. Hand in hand with these are your own memories and observations of what happened. All of these pieces of evidence help put the puzzle together and offer a clear picture of the crash.
Our team has helped clients recover millions in damages to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and emotional trauma.
Tips for Collecting Evidence
Unless you need to get immediate medical care, you should begin gathering evidence right after the accident. You can start taking pictures and videos of the damage to the vehicles. Make sure you keep yourself safe, though. Don’t walk into the street to get a better shot or do anything that puts you or others at risk.
When you reach out to witnesses, make sure you’re polite. They will likely be a bit upset, too, at witnessing the accident. Ask them if they’re willing to provide a statement. Don’t force the issue if they’re not, but do get their contact information anyway. We can follow up on this later on, if needed.
Why You Need Car Accident Lawyers to Help You
Often, people assume that filing a personal injury claim is just a matter of filling out some paperwork. There’s much more involved that requires experience and knowledge of New York laws.
Keep in mind that New York operates under a no-fault system regarding car accidents. The only way you can step out of that system is if you suffer serious injuries or a significant amount of economic losses. That’s one of the first hurdles you have to overcome. With our lawyers’ help, you can demonstrate that you suffered losses substantial enough to allow you to file a lawsuit.
The next difficulty is demonstrating that the other party caused the accident. That’s where the evidence comes in. It’s not enough to have photos and testimonies, however. You have to be able to explain how the accident occurred using all of that evidence. We can do this for you.
Negotiating with insurance companies is perhaps the most difficult aspect of a claim. Insurers don’t want to pay you what you deserve, so they’ll try all manner of tactics, including bullying you into accepting a low offer. We will fight for what we know you deserve. If we don’t think we’re making headway with negotiations, we can also take your claim to court.
Contact Tucker Lawyers
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Attorneys
After suffering losses in a car accident, you may be able to file a claim for compensation. At Tucker Lawyers, we have decades of experience helping people get the help they need after accidents that weren’t their fault.
Contact our team by calling us at (516) 399-2364.
Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.
John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]