If you’re injured in a car accident in New Haven, you may have to prove that the other driver is at fault before you can recover financial compensation from his or her insurance company. Connecticut is a tort state, meaning the driver who caused the accident is responsible for paying for the other driver’s related bills. It is up to you as the injured party to support your claim using clear and convincing evidence. A New Haven car accident attorney can guide you through the legal process and pursue the best outcome for your unique case.
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ToggleYou should always report a car accident to the police, no matter how minor. Involving the police will result in a police report created for your accident. This will contain important facts about the crash that you can use to prove your case later, such as the direction and speed of the other vehicle. A car insurance company will ask for a copy of the police report to help determine fault and process your claim. Make sure you give your side of the story to the responding police officer so that it gets put in the report. Do not admit fault for the car crash.
Before you leave the scene of your car accident, use your smartphone to capture photographs and videos of important details. Pictures can provide hard evidence during a car accident case. Pay attention to any skid marks or vehicle debris on the ground, surrounding traffic signs and signals, the location of the crash as a whole, and the damage to all vehicles involved. If there are nearby businesses or traffic cameras, obtain copies of this video footage, as well.
Testimony-type evidence from witnesses can help you prove that the other driver is at fault for your crash. The first type of witness is an eyewitness. An eyewitness is at the scene of the crash and saw the collision take place. Eyewitnesses will have information that no one else has about how and why the car accident happened. The second type of witness is an expert witness. Expert witnesses have special knowledge on certain subjects, such as car accident reconstruction experts and medical experts. They can help explain a concept to a judge or jury. A personal injury lawyer can help you hire expert witnesses to support your case.
Obtaining the other driver’s phone records can help you prove a car accident case based on distracted driving. If the other driver was typing a text message, chatting on the phone or watching videos, his or her cell phone records will show this. Cell phone records can be used to prove that the other driver wasn’t paying attention to the road and that this is what caused the collision. If the driver was working at the time of the accident, such as a rideshare driver or delivery person, his or her employer may be responsible for the accident instead. Our Uber and Lyft accident attorneys have experience with such cases and can assist you if you were involved in a rideshare collision, whether as another driver or as a passenger.
Copies of your medical records as the injured victim of a car accident in Connecticut can help you prove the type and extent of your injuries associated with the crash. If you suffered a broken bone that will force you to take time off of work, for example, your medical records can help you prove your injuries and related losses. You will also need evidence of other damages, such as receipts, bills, pay stubs and photographs.
After a car accident, you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you throughout the claims process. An attorney will have the knowledge and resources to collect key evidence related to your claim while you concentrate on healing. Your attorney can revisit the scene of the crash, speak to eyewitnesses, collect copies of important records and take many other steps to help you build the strongest claim possible. To learn more, review our firm’s list of frequently asked questions and contact a New Haven personal injury lawyer today.