Although car accident claims are common these days, victims still lack awareness in terms of the kind of evidence they need to gather. Although your attorney will guide you about documentation, you may not have them on board right after the mishap. Still, this is the time to collect the most valuable pieces of evidence that would strengthen your case eventually. So it is important to be aware of all the records and documents that you need to collect and preserve starting from day one of the accident till the time when you finally get the settlement you deserve.
Needless to say, detailed documentation is a key element of any successful lawsuit. Whether you are seriously injured in the mishap or have sustained massive property damage, you will need documentary evidence to validate the facts. Moreover, your lawyer would require them to understand the details of the accident and build a solid case to get you maximum compensation. Here is a list of reports that can go a long way in securing the car accident claims that you are legally entitled to.
Medical reports
Without any doubt, your medical reports are the mainstay of the personal injury case. Unless you can validate the injury with these records, you have no case. It is crucial to see a doctor right after the accident, even if you feel fine. There may be hidden injuries that only a specialist can diagnose. The doctor’s report about the injuries and recommended treatments serve as the foundation of your claim. There may be multiple documents depending on the type and seriousness of your injury, so you must keep them all at one place. It would be good to retain copies of medical bills and diagnostic records to add credibility to the case.
Ambulance reports
Even before you see a medical practitioner, you may require first aid on the spot. If you had to take an ambulance to reach the hospital after the mishap, you should get the run report that keeps the details of the EMT’s observations of the injuries. In fact, these records can also furnish some valuable facts about the possible impressions of the scene they noted immediately after the crash. While there is no standard template for ambulance reports, they often vary in terms of the details they carry. But they can serve as a valuable input for your attorney as they gather bits and pieces of information to craft a narrative of the mishap.
Accident reconstruction reports
Some accident cases are more complex than others and it may not be easy to prove your claim with the basic reports. Expert car accident attorneys who fight hard for justice will, however, stop at nothing when it comes to getting a fair settlement for their clients. They collaborate with a reconstruction expert to get a deeper insight into the circumstances that could have led to the crash. These experts piece together the details from the other reports and documents to get a fair idea about the accident. Fortunately, a reconstruction report is a legitimate piece of evidence that can improve your chances.
Police reports
Another valuable document that you absolutely need to validate your claim is the police report. Calling the police is the first thing you should do right after the accident. Once the law enforcement officers arrive, they write a detailed report which carries the key information such as the parties involved, vehicle details, and statements of the defendant, victims and witnesses, and additional observations about the crash scene. They will also include the photographs taken by the officers. You can ask the officers for a copy of the document because it is something that you will need when filing a claim.
Vehicle reports
If the accident involves damage to your vehicle in addition to physical injuries, you will also need some vehicle reports to show in the court. The body shop estimates and records will show the extent of damage to the vehicles. Investigators may even use them for determining the speed and angle at which the other vehicle hit your car. Black box reports can take the evidence to the next level as these recorders show valuable information such as speed, braking and even deployment of airbags before the crash.
Apart from these reports, your lawyer would also want you to have copies of witness reports to add extra credibility to your claims. While the police will note their testimonies in their report, it always makes sense to get the contact information of the witnesses in case your attorney wants to connect with them later.
