Gathering Evidence In Delaware Car Accident Cases
Car accident victims can face significant physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Fortunately, thanks to Delaware's personal injury laws, victims hurt in car crashes caused by someone else's negligence can sue the at-fault party and seek compensation for injuries and other damages. If you have been injured in a car crash, contact our Wilmington, DE car crash attorneys.
Sadly, not everyone who files a personal injury lawsuit after a car accident walks away with a monetary award. Proving a car crash case requires evidence. If you were injured or suffered financial losses in an accident that wasn't your fault, gathering evidence may help strengthen your claim, and make a successful case resolution involving a monetary award more likely.
Gathering Evidence at the Scene
Evidence collected at the scene of a car accident—such as photographs and videos—can be crucial in proving a case to a judge or jury. Important evidence gathered at the scene can include:
- Photographs or videos of physical injuries you sustained in the crash
- Photographs or videos of damage to your vehicle and other possessions
- Photographs or videos of the accident scene that document road or weather conditions relevant to the collision
- Contact information for anyone who witnessed the accident
The best time to collect this kind of evidence is immediately following an accident. After all, physical injuries can improve and heal, and road and weather conditions can change. The longer victims wait to gather evidence from the scene of the accident, the greater the risk that valuable evidence could be damaged or lost.
However, there are times when accident-related injuries prevent victims from collecting evidence right after a crash. A knowledgeable and experienced Delaware car accident attorney can help clients mitigate such challenges to build strong cases.
Documenting Injuries and Other Damages
Evidence collection in car crash cases does not stop at the scene of the accident. In the days and weeks after the accident, victims can compile a number of documents that can lend credence to their claim. These documents can include:
- A copy of the car accident police report. While the police report is not admissible in court, it can provide crucial information that can help your attorney construct a solid case.
- Medical records documenting injuries sustained in the accident, and outlining treatment plans and prognoses. Comprehensive records from the doctors treating your accident-related injuries can help a judge or jury understand the severity of injuries the victim has suffered.
- Statements documenting medical costs incurred as a result of car accident injuries. Documents reflecting the cost of doctors visits, hospital stays, surgical procedures, rehabilitation therapies, and medical-related travel expenses can help determine the value of your Delaware car accident personal injury claim.
- Property damage repair or replacement estimates or receipts. Damage to vehicles and valuable property inside can be factored into the worth of a claim.
Eyewitness and Expert Witness Testimony
In addition to photographic, video, and documentary evidence, oral testimony from eyewitnesses and expert witnesses can serve as valuable evidence in car accident cases.
Eyewitnesses can testify to what they saw before, during, and after a crash, while expert witnesses are specialists with professional knowledge, experience, or training that relates to a particular aspect of a case. For example, accident reconstructionists are expert witnesses who examine all the available evidence and use it to determine how and why a crash happened. Other types of expert witnesses used in car accident cases can include:
- Doctors, psychologists, physical therapists, and other medical professionals
- Economists
- Engineers
- Lifecare planners
- Vocational specialists
Consult an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
Did you suffer serious injuries or sustain significant property damage in a negligence-related car accident that wasn't your fault? The skilled legal team with the Morris James Personal Injury Group can help you fight for whatever compensation you deserve.
Contact the Morris James Personal Injury Group today to schedule a free initial case consultation. Our professional staff is eager to address any questions or concerns you may have.
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