Car accidents are an unfortunate but chilling reality for many that can result in a myriad of physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If you have been injured in a car accident, gathering and presenting evidence with the help of a Wilmington car accident attorney is pivotal in establishing liability and recovering compensation. There are many different types of evidence that can be used to support your claim and provide a glimpse into how the accident occurred, the extent of damages, and more. In this article, we will explore a few types of evidence that are typically used in car accident cases.
Physical Evidence
The first type of evidence that is commonly used is physical evidence. These are tangible items and objects that can be collected from the accident scene. They may include vehicle debris, skid marks, road signs, and road conditions. Gathering this evidence is important to help reconstruct the events that led up to the accident, who is at fault, and the aftermath of the accident.
Photographic and Video Evidence
The next type of evidence that is used when investigating car accident cases is photographic and video evidence. This may include surveillance footage or dashcam videos that have recorded evidence of the accident and how it occurred. In addition, photos and images taken immediately following the accident may be considered as they can provide crucial insight regarding the vehicle’s position and the extent of damage and injury.
Eyewitness Testimony
Eyewitness testimony may also be considered an important piece of evidence in a car accident case. Eyewitnesses, also known as lay witnesses, are individuals who were present at the scene and witnessed the accident happen. Their testimonies can help to support or refute evidence and provide different perspectives regarding the sequence of events that occurred. It is important to know that eyewitness testimonies are subject to bias and potential flaws, but are still valuable nonetheless.
Expert Testimony
Another type of evidence typically used in car accident cases is expert testimony. Unlike eyewitnesses whose testimony arises from what they saw occur in real-time, experts’ testimony is built upon specialized knowledge and analysis. Their job is to give insight as to what they believe occurred and resulted based on data, research, and testing. Experts may include accident reconstructionists, medical experts, mechanical engineers, and financial analysts.
Medical Records
Medical records also provide valuable information in a car accident case. This evidence is useful in establishing the extent of injuries sustained and the current and future impact that they will have on the accident victim’s life. Medical records can include information and documentation regarding hospital visits, doctor’s notes, physical therapy, diagnoses, surgeries, medications, treatments, and more.
Electronic Data
The final type of evidence that is typically used in the investigation of a car accident case is electronic data. Thanks to advancements in technology, it is now easier than ever to pull data from devices to uncover what occurred. This may include GPS data, event data recorders (EDR), as well as cell phone records, all of which can provide important information regarding what may have caused the accident.
Leave a Reply