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The kind of evidence you gather is essential to obtain a reasonable payout from a car accident insurance claim. The burden of proving damages is on the party seeking reimbursement if an insurance claim develops into a civil case. If the case proceeds to court, the plaintiff will bear the burden of proving that they sustained harm and damages and that the other driver was to blame for the collision.
Partnering with Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers gives you access to knowledgeable Boston personal injury attorneys who can help you gather evidence and advise you on what will be most helpful in your case. We fight for accident victims to ensure they obtain a fair payout and have the know-how to handle the insurance company on your behalf. To schedule a free consultation, dial 617-391-9001 or fill out our contact form.
Handling a car accident claim can be challenging. Insurance companies will take any opportunity to deny or undervalue a claim to make a profit. Your claim will likely become more solid and valuable with every detail and proof you compile to support it.
As the injured party, you must collect evidence that proves your side of the story, you were accident-related injuries, and any wages or income you lost from having to miss work. Evidence can take many different forms.
Immediately after a car accident, you should start documenting injuries and damages by taking photos and videos if you can. If you cannot record evidence right away, you can have someone go back to the crash site to do it for you.
Capture images of the entire accident scene as well as close-up photos of your physical injuries and any property damage. You might also be able to ask nearby businesses if they caught the accident on their surveillance cameras. This evidence can reveal where the other driver struck you, the seriousness of your injuries, and many other details about the nature of the accident.
Before you leave the scene, obtain the contact information of eyewitnesses. It is simpler to establish who was at fault for the car accident when there are witnesses who can provide first-hand accounts of what occurred at the scene of the collision. For instance, they could have seen what caused the accident or witnessed the at-fault driver acting recklessly.
Later on, eyewitnesses may be called on to testify and make an official statement on what they say. Personal injury claims frequently devolve into the parties telling their version of events, often putting themselves in a favorable light. When other people who were not involved in the accident share what they witnessed, it can corroborate your side of the story.
Your medical records and invoices will be valuable evidence for establishing the severity of your injuries and the cost of your medical expenses. As soon as you have seen a doctor, start saving copies of documentation of your injuries and associated costs, such as those for surgeries, medical procedures, and prescription medication.
The insurance provider will likely request copies of all pertinent medical records to verify your injuries. A medical authorization form from the insurance provider should not be signed, though, as the provider might use it to access older information and justify rejecting your claim.
A police report can include crucial information regarding the collision, including if one of the drivers broke the law and the insurance information for the other. A collision in Massachusetts that results in injuries, fatalities, or property damage must be reported to the police.
A police officer will frequently record all information about the accident after arriving at the site of an automobile accident, such as the following:
You may access the official accident report online after paying a fee. When you’re filing a claim, the insurance provider will most likely ask for the police report as evidence to verify your claim.
This documentation will be required by an insurance provider that your losses occurred as you claim. In a trial, a police officer’s testimony will typically carry more weight than your word or a witness statement alone.
The burden of proof falls on you if you are a car accident victim seeking compensation. You are responsible for providing sufficient proof that another person was at fault for your collision and injuries. The plaintiff, who is the one seeking damages, is always responsible for bearing this burden. Collecting valuable evidence is necessary to satisfy this burden of proof.
Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers work hard to protect the interests of their clients in car accident claims, whether facing a defendant or an insurance company. Our hard work has given us a reputation as a firm with competent and reliable attorneys. For instance, Attorney Kyle Camilleri, a trial attorney who devotes 100% of his practice to litigation, represents clients in various personal injury claims, including car accidents. Legal professionals like him may prove to be a valuable asset to your case.
After a collision, discuss your claim with a Massachusetts car accident attorney to help you compile compelling evidence of liability, cause, and losses. The evidence you need to file a successful insurance claim can be easier to gather with the assistance of a lawyer. Get advice on finding the proper evidence and other ways to help strengthen your claim from an experienced Boston car accident lawyer.
The legal staff at Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers assists clients in understanding what is required to obtain a fair offer. During our more than 45 years of service, our passionate personal injury attorneys have dedicated substantial time to acquiring a comprehensive legal understanding that we have used to represent our clients successfully. To set up a free consultation, contact us at 617-391-9001 or via our contact form.
