When we first meet with certain clients, they want to know why they should hire a Philadelphia accident attorney. They argue that they can handle their own lawsuit. If that’s something you want to do, we won’t try to stop you. However, our Philadelphia injury lawyers have the necessary experience to know what kind of evidence you’ll need to prove your case. Here, we’ll discuss the various kinds of evidence your attorney will use to support your claim for damages. If you still have questions about your own car accident or worry there isn’t enough evidence to prove your case, give us a call. We do offer all new clients a free, initial consultation. This gives both you and your Philadelphia accident attorney a chance to review your case and see if it’s worth pursuing.
It’s Not Enough to Prove That You Were Involved in an Accident
Sometimes, it’s hard for our Philadelphia injury lawyers to explain that it’s not enough for a plaintiff to demonstrate that they were involved in a car crash. In order to collect damages, you need to show two things. First, you need to demonstrate that the other driver was primarily responsible for the accident. To do this, your attorney must prove negligence on the part of the defendant.
The second thing your Philadelphia accident attorney must prove is the fact that you were injured. Even if you can show that the other driver was at fault, if you didn’t suffer an actual injury, you won’t prevail in your case. The court will ask why you’re demanding compensation if you didn’t suffer a loss. Remember – your losses can include both physical injuries as well as financial ones. For example, if your car was totaled in the crash, your attorney will demand that you are paid the fair market value of your car at the time of the crash.
Your Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Will Rely on Physical Evidence
You Can Also Submit Photographs and Video Footage
In this day and age, where everybody carries a cell phone, it’s really important to take pictures or videos of the accident scene. You would want pictures of both the damage to your vehicle and any injuries suffered by yourself and your passengers. It’s also a good idea to take a picture of the accident scene. For example, if the defendant’s car is facing the wrong direction, it may show the court that the other driver was traveling in the wrong direction prior to impact.
Even if you aren’t able to take any photos or videos of the crash scene, your Philadelphia injury lawyer can look to see if any external cameras caught the accident on tape. For example, many popular intersections in Philadelphia still have red light or intersection cameras. The footage from these cameras can be subpoenaed by your attorney. Once they have a copy of this footage, it may be a lot easier to prove who was at fault.
Many Philadelphia Accident Attorneys Rely Heavily on Witness Testimony
When the cops arrive at the accident scene, they will look to see if anybody witnessed the crash. While some witnesses don’t stick around long enough to talk to the police, some do. There are people who relish the idea of being a witness in a civil case. The police will get the contact information for any eyewitnesses. They will also get a statement from each witness. Their statement will be summarized in the officer’s final report.
Your Philadelphia accident attorney will need to talk to these witnesses to see if they can help your case. For example, if one of the witnesses saw the crash unfold, they can help prove that the defendant was at fault. You do need to be careful because there could also be witnesses who swear that you were the one who caused the accident.
Your Medical Documentation Will Also Play a Critical Role
As stated above, it’s not enough to prove that you were involved in a motor vehicle accident. Your Philadelphia injury lawyer needs to be able to prove that you were hurt. They also need to prove that the defendant caused your injuries. The best way to do this is by submitting a copy of your medical records to the court. Prior to doing this, your Philadelphia accident attorney will forward copies of any evidence you have to the defendant’s attorney. Not only is this legally required, but it may also convince the defendant to offer a settlement. Once they see how strong the evidence against them is, they may be more willing to listen to reason.
Your Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Knows What to Do to Prove Negligence and Get You the Damages You Deserve
When it comes to the evidence used in any car accident case, it always depends on the facts. Since every car accident lawsuit is different, there’s a good chance the type of evidence used in these cases will be different as well. Of course, there are certain types of evidence, such as physical evidence, that is used in most personal injury cases. For example, any Philadelphia accident attorney will use proof of the damage to your vehicle to help prove fault. They will also rely on medical documentation to demonstrate the nature and extent of your injuries. However, there are other types of evidence, such as video footage, that may not always be available.
Our Philadelphia injury lawyers have handled hundreds of accident cases over the years. We know how to gather the evidence necessary to prove your case. We can also tell, with relative certainty, whether a case has promise. When we first meet with a new client, our goal is to determine if their case is worth pursuing. If it does, we will more than likely be willing to represent you. If, however, your case is only worth a few thousand dollars, or if the evidence is weak, we may pass on your case. The only way to know for sure is to call our office and schedule your free, initial consultation.