The village of Prospect Park has its fair share of car accidents since its drivers must contend with the traffic of the greater Chicago region. If you are the victim of the likely yet unexpected negligence of another driver, our lawyers can help.
The key to a successful car accident claim is evidence. Our attorneys have been handling car collision lawsuits for years and know what evidence you will need regardless of your accident’s complexity. You can even begin collecting critical information before your lawsuit starts by taking photographs at the scene, giving a report to the police, and speaking with any witnesses who rendered aid. However, our lawyers will investigate every aspect of your incident to obtain the evidence you could not, as well as collect and organize your medical records.
For a free case assessment with our Evantson car accident attorneys, call Rhatigan Law Offices at (312) 578-8502.
Preserving Evidence After a Car Accident in Mount Prospect, IL
Most people know that to win a lawsuit for a car accident, they need evidence to prove the other driver was liable. However, many are unsure what evidence they will need to prove the various elements of their claim.
Fortunately, our car accident attorneys can organize the evidence in your possession and gather additional information to clarify your damages and who is liable for them. Before meeting with our team, though, there are a few ways you can preserve evidence at the scene of your car crash and while getting treatment. This will allow you to preserve important details of your accident that might not be available by the time you start your lawsuit. The following will explain how to save evidence and how it can be used in your claim:
Photographic Evidence
The accident scene itself can tell a great deal about how the collision occurred and how severe it was. Unfortunately, much of this evidence at the scene gets cleaned up quickly so the debris does not cause danger to other drivers. To use that evidence in your case, you can take photos using your smartphone if you can.
The first detail you might notice is the debris strewn about the crash site. Perhaps you noticed tire marks, broken glass, plastic and fiberglass pieces, and other wreckage. You should take as many pictures of these details as you can since this evidence will be cleaned from the scene soon after. Also, photograph the vehicles. Specifically, take pictures of the points of impact on the vehicles, the damage to the body, and where the vehicles’ final positions.
Next, take pictures of the location where the accident happened. You will want to capture details like traffic lights or signs, lane markings, and other road conditions you think are relevant. These photos will tell us what the other driver might have missed to cause your crash. It will also tell us the time of day your accident occurred, the weather, and the traffic conditions at the time of the accident.
Photos of your injuries can also be submitted as evidence later when pursuing compensation. Having pictures of your physical injuries while at the scene will provide conclusive evidence that you were injured when you said you were. Preserving evidence of your injuries as they were right when the accident happened builds your credibility. It shows the court how severe your injuries were then as opposed to when you testify in your case, which could be months after your treatment.
When you meet with our lawyers, we can review these pictures to determine their best use in your claim. We will also investigate your crash scene for surveillance footage evidence. Many businesses and residences in Mount Prospect have security cameras installed. When investigating the scene, we will identify any nearby cameras that might have had an angle to film your collision. However, we need to act quickly since most camera owners delete their footage regularly. We might also be able to get dashcam footage if one was recording during the accident, even if it is in the other driver’s possession.
Evidence of Your Injuries
If you took pictures of your injuries at the scene, you have already made a good start at preserving that evidence. However, you will need to get further medical treatment to recover all the damages you will claim in your lawsuit. Medical records are foundational to car accident claims. If you had all the evidence mentioned above but did not have medical records substantiating your injuries, your claim would, in all likelihood, be denied. The goal is to not give the defendant any room to argue that your injuries were not that bad.
Thus, we recommend going to the emergency room even if you were involved in a relatively minor accident. In most cases, the police will investigate your crash and note if you accepted medical care at the scene in their accident report. If you do not accept care, the defense could use this to lower the compensation you ultimately get. Going to the hospital will also help discover underlying injuries, like organ damage or internal bleeding, that you might not have noticed while under the stress of the accident.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you will probably have a treatment plan to get further care. It is important to follow your treatment plan and attend all your appointments. Defense attorneys and insurance companies will be on the lookout for missed appointments as ammunition to fight your claim.
Fortunately, you do not need to worry about collecting these records. As you get treatment, we can track your billing and request your medical records as they are generated. We will use these records to calculate your economic damages and will also be used as a basis for assessing your pain and suffering.
Witness Testimony
Witness testimony can be incredibly helpful if you can get it. Witnesses do not typically wait around long at an accident scene, so speak to them soon after the accident if your injuries allow. If a witness offered assistance, be sure to get their information so we can contact them after filing your lawsuit. Our team can arrange for them to testify as to what they saw. If the witness clearly saw the other driver act negligently or several witnesses testify to the same, your case will likely settle well before trial.
If your accident was complicated or your injuries and treatment are difficult for a layperson to understand, we can arrange for experts to testify. In many cases, we will need a medical expert to testify to how your injuries have impacted you to prove your pain and suffering damages.
Our Mount Prospect, IL Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
Our car accident lawyers at Rhatigan Law Offices can provide you with a free case review when you call (312) 578-8502.
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