STEP 5: How Much Car Accident Evidence Do I Need To Document?​

Your Douglasville car accident attorney will work with you to gather evidence for defending your injury claim. Some examples of evidence that should be obtained after a Douglasville car accident include:

• Pictures of damage to your vehicle
• Pictures of bruises and injuries
• Statements from witnesses
• Police report
• The other driver’s insurance information (can be found on the police report)
• Doctors report and medical bills
• Any receipts for expenses incurred due to the car accident

1. Witness Testimony

Personal injury claims can quickly end in a “he said/she said” conflict of words. That is what makes eyewitness testimony from the scene of a car accident so powerful. The more witnesses who can give firsthand descriptions of what happened at a collision scene, the easier it is to prove who was at fault for the car accident. Thus, taking down the names, phone numbers, and witnesses’ addresses at a Georgia car accident scene is crucial toward establishing your claim later.

2. Property Damage

Your case will likely include at least one essential piece of evidence: your car’s visible damages. This proof can show where you were hit, the severity of the injuries, and many other clues on the accident’s circumstances. If the other driver says that you hit him or her, for instance, the damages to your car may prove otherwise.

3. Police Reports

A police officer’s testimonial will usually hold more weight in the courtroom environment. That is what makes the police report in a car accident case so significant. Upon arriving at a car accident scene, a police officer will often take note of all details of the accident. This can include the vehicles’ location, license plate numbers, damages, interviews with witnesses, and conversations with those directly involved in the car wreck. The Georgia police report presents a thorough summary of the circumstances before, during, and after a car crash. As such, it is possibly the most critical piece of evidence in a car accident injury claim. This makes it necessary to promptly call the police if you have been in a car accident, especially when it involves injuries. You will then have the opportunity to directly give your statement to the officer and assure that they file an accurate police report.

If you have been in a Georgia auto accident, there are a few ways to obtain your police report:

• Call the police department
  You’ll need the county of the accident, and the case number if you have it. If you don’t have it, try your last name and the date of the accident
• Buycrash.com
  Please note that many, but not all, police departments use Buycrash.com. You can call the department to see if it’s ready yet and if it is available online.
• Get an attorney to handle your case
  If the attorney decides to take on your case, they will locate your police report with some basic facts about your case.

To receive a copy of the police report for free, you can ask the claims agent for your insurance company to see if they can send you a copy of the report. The insurance company may not always have a police report, but if they do, it will save you some time and money. Either way, it can take a few weeks for the investigative officer to complete the police report and make it accessible.

If you are present at the scene of the incident, you may see the investigating officer administering several tasks: inspecting vehicles, talking to people, marking distances, and taking notes and photographs. The deputy is completing these tasks to collect the required information for later drafting of the report. The police report is generally defined as a summary of the police officer’s investigation of the collision. The police report will regularly include some or all of the following:

• estimated date, time, and location of the car accident
• identifying information for individuals involved in the collision, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and insurance information
• identifying info for any eyewitnesses
• area of damage to the vehicles affected in the collision
• weather, roadway, and lighting conditions at the scene
• diagram of the accident
• accounts from the parties and witnesses
• citations or breaches of law, and
• theories as to cause of the crash or a liability decision.

The information included in the police report can be a fact or an opinion. For instance, the date, time, and location of the collision are facts. Fault determinations (i.e., who caused the accident) are the opinions of the police officer. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Through the investigation, the insurance company will come to their conclusion (opinion) as to who is at fault. Sometimes the insurance company and police officer’s views are inconsistent. This is why there are times when a police report can be in your support in terms of a liability decision, but the other driver’s insurance company still refuses your injury claim.

When a claim is reported to the insurance company, they will start an investigation. One of the first things that an insurance company may ask for is the police report. As we explained above, the report covers a vast amount of information about the car wreck. It is a helpful resource for additional investigation. They may also try to get a recorded statement. Do NOT give a recorded statement without first consulting with a Douglasville lawyer about your case.