What Evidence Is Crucial for Building a Strong Accident Case?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you’ll need a lot of evidence to build a strong case for the compensation you need to get your life back on track. Your accident attorney in Nassau County will help you find and use all the following types of evidence.

Photographs and Videos

If you’re physically able, take some clear photos of the accident site right after the incident. These images should, as much as possible, capture details like the positions of the vehicles involved, visible damage, any skid marks, the surrounding road conditions, traffic signs, and even weather conditions.

In some cases, there may also be video footage from dash cams, surveillance cameras from nearby businesses, or traffic cameras. Talk to a lawyer right away to make sure you can get access to this footage, and bear in mind that some of it, like business security camera footage, is regularly erased to make room for more recordings, so this isn’t something you want to wait on.

Police Reports

Always call the police so they can make an official accident report. The report will have their observations, statements by those involved, and any citations that may have been issued. Police reports provide an objective third-party account of what happened with the professional opinion of the officer/s about who was at fault. Those opinions aren’t the end of the matter, and other evidence can show a different story, but they still hold a lot of weight.

Medical Records

Medical records prove the extent of your injuries and can also be used to link them to the accident. The more comprehensive your medical records, the easier it will be to prove that the accident directly caused your injuries and that you’re entitled to compensation for your medical bills. In some cases, your lawyer may also want to get testimony from medical experts to help establish the extent of your injuries and their likely long-term impact on you.

Witness Statements

Eyewitness accounts will be very helpful, and particularly if the witnesses are neutral parties with no stake in the outcome. Witness statements can sometimes provide an additional perspective that cameras didn’t capture and which you and the other driver didn’t see, and they can corroborate your version of events. Even if the police collect statements at the scene, your legal team will likely want to clarify details and make sure nothing was missed.

Documentation of Your Financial Losses

Accidents can cause a range of financial losses that go beyond those medical bills. You’re likely to have losses from property damage, lost wages due to missed work, or extra expenses due to being impaired and unable to do your usual chores: like childcare costs or paying for lawn care or home cleaning. To recover compensation for these losses, you’ll need to provide detailed documentation, receipts, pay stubs, or any other proof of the financial impact.

For help in building a strong accident case, contact us at Miller, Montiel & Strano, P.C  in Nassau County right away. 

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