The US experiences a staggering 6 million car accidents every year.
If you have been a victim, it’s a given that you’ll file an auto accident lawsuit to get compensation for all the injuries and damages incurred. Now, there are certain documents that you’ll need to provide your case and win the lawsuit.
These documents are crucial to your case, because they prove the details and hold evidence. This article will provide you with an auto accident document checklist and show you which documents are crucial. Provide these documents to your auto accident lawyer, and they will use them to win your auto accident case.
Personal Information
The most important thing about filing an auto accident lawsuit is having a professional auto accident lawyer. There are numerous professional law firms out there, Do your due diligence and make sure you hire the right one.
When meeting your car accident lawyer, you need to provide proof of identity, such as a driver’s license or passport. You may also have to bring your Social Security card or other identifying information, such as your birth certificate and military ID.
Medical Records Showcasing Injuries and Damages
Some of the most significant documents you need to have are medical records related to the auto accident injuries you sustained. They should include everything from doctor visits, hospitalization, medical treatment, therapies, surgeries, chiropractic care, and prescriptions.
Medical records should also include the severity of your injuries and the estimated date of your full recovery.
Records should show if there are any permanent conditions or disabilities that will remain after you have recovered completely. These details will help determine the settlement value of your claim.
Collect any receipts for items that have been purchased as a direct result of your injuries, such as medications and medical equipment.
Receipts and medical bills will help document the damages you have incurred as a result of the accident. If you had pre-existing medical conditions that worsened after the car accident, make sure you provide your auto accident lawyer with documents showcasing that information.
A Police Report
There are numerous reasons why having a police report should be on your auto accident document checklist. The first reason that you need to have a police report is that they serve as proof of what the exact events were at the scene of the accident.
Your auto accident lawyer will use it to compare what you believe happened with what officers suspected to have taken place. If there are differences, then you can highlight these pieces of evidence in your case.
Having a police report will also help you prove who is at fault. If it’s clear that the other party was negligent, then this document only serves to strengthen your claim. Furthermore, police reports can be used as evidence in court.
If push comes to shove and you have to go to court, having a police report can go a long way into proving who was at fault. This does not necessarily mean that you can use it as evidence in a court of law.
Once you get the report and submit it to your attorney, they’ll be able to show it during the trial if approved.
Insurance Information
One of the most significant documents that must be in your auto accident document checklist is your insurance information. Give your auto accident lawyer a copy of your insurance plan so they can verify coverage. They will also determine if the other party has adequate insurance.
If the limits of the policy are insufficient to cover damages, they can help determine how to proceed with your auto accident case. Keep in mind that if you make a claim against the other party’s insurance company, they can search for any previous claims or incidents with this company.
There may be other claims made on your policy, such as a claim by you or a family member for injuries sustained outside of the accident. In this case, keep any documents related to those incidents with you when meeting your lawyer so he or she can access them if needed.
Photos and Videos
Photos and videos are some of the most crucial documents and should be on your auto accident document checklist. They add to the credibility of your case, to your actual auto accident injuries, and can really help you out when it comes time to negotiate a settlement.
Photos and videos basically show how serious your injuries are. They’ll also showcase how badly your car was damaged as a result of the accident. This helps prove that the other party should pay for not only medical expenses but for repair costs as well.
Without any photos or videos of your car accident, the insurance company might come back to you and say that the accident was your fault. They do this because they can take advantage of the fact that you don’t have any evidence to prove otherwise.
If you did not take any after the accident, check whether the witnesses did and whether they can give them to you. It would help if you also were taking pictures of your injuries as you recover to showcase progress.
Witness Statements
Talking about witnesses, if you were in a position to get their statements, then you should provide them to your auto accident lawyer.
Statements from witnesses must be on your auto accident document checklist because they’ll provide perspective into the case. The witnesses will have seen different aspects of the accident that you did not, and this could prove who was at fault.
Your Pay Stubs
Why would paystubs need to be on your auto accident document checklist? Because they’ll show how the auto accident injuries have affected your ability to work. If you’ve missed work for a certain period, you may be entitled to lost wages.
Citations or Tickets Related to the Accident
In some cases, any of the drivers may have received a traffic ticket for various reasons. In this case, you may have received a ticket or citation for drunk driving, speeding, texting, or driving recklessly. Any ticket may be used against you during your personal injury case.
This makes it important for you to give the ticket to your auto accident lawyer. They will have time to review it and create an argument against it. This way, they’ll not be caught off-guard when the other party presents it and will work towards reducing your liability.
Essential Auto Accident Document Checklist: Everything You Need
If you’re filing an auto accident case, you need to provide your auto accident lawyer with these crucial documents. Go through our auto accident document checklist to understand why these documents are essential and how they can help your case.
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