After a car crash, you cannot rely on the facts to speak for themselves, and you cannot rely on police who arrive on the scene to accurately determine what really happened, who hit who, and who was to blame. They rely largely on driver and witness statements, which may not be accurate or truthful. Determining who was to blame is crucial to your accident claim, if you were injured, and being wrongly blamed for the accident can hurt you in other ways, including raising your insurance premiums and possibly costing you your job. You can protect yourself by gathering and preserving as much evidence as possible, at the scene, and by talking to an experienced Las Vegas car crash attorney right away.
Your Word Against Theirs
It’s important to understand that what the other driver tells police about the accident may not be the truth at all. It’s not uncommon for drivers and witnesses to have different impressions of what happened, and all fully believe their own version. And, then at-fault drivers sometimes lie about what happened. There are many reasons. Maybe they are in danger of losing their license or job if found at fault. Or just worried about an increase in their insurance rates.
You need more evidence to prove that the other driver was to blame. Your word against theirs is usually not going to be enough.
Gathering Evidence
Whenever possible, you should gather your own evidence at the scene of the accident, and you should do it a quickly as possible, before the scene changes and evidence is lost or destroyed. If your injuries prevent you from gathering evidence, you may be able to get help from a passenger or even a witness.
Photos can provide the most meaningful documentation. When used together, photos that can paint a picture of what really happened include:
- Photos of all vehicles involved
- Photos of any damage to vehicles and objects, and anywhere contact was made
- Skid marks, fluid leaked, pieces broken off of vehicles
- A wider view of the entire scene that can show the approach and factors that could have contributed to the crash
- How the vehicles have come to rest after the crash, before they are moved
- License plates
- Other driver, passengers and witnesses
- Any injuries
- Road signs, traffic signals, and any obstacles or impediments to traffic or visibility
The sooner you call a car crash attorney, the more effective your attorney’s investigation will be. If your accident occurred in the Las Vegas area, please call Adam Smith Law at 702-929-2289 or contact us online right away.
Adam Smith Law