How a Car Accident Lawyer Will Investigate the Case
If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by another driver, having an experienced car accident lawyer on your side can make all the difference when seeking maximum compensation. A key benefit a knowledgeable attorney brings is conducting a thorough, independent investigation of the collision and the events leading up to it.
Besides a single driver’s negligence, many factors may have contributed to an accident. An attorney will work diligently to uncover every detail that supports the strongest injury claim possible.
Here is an overview of the investigative steps the car accident lawyers at Buckhead Law Saxton Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., and other experienced firms will take.
Visiting the Accident Scene
The lawyer will travel to the actual location to observe and photograph the conditions that may have played a role. They look for factors like:
- Road hazards or obstruction
- Poor lighting or visibility
- Problems with road design or maintenance
- Malfunctioning traffic control devices
- Environmental elements like sun glare
Seeing the scene firsthand yields insights that reports alone may not provide.
Reviewing Police Reports
Official accident reports contain victim and witness statements along with officer observations. The lawyer analyzes the reports for inconsistencies, evidence of violations, or liability uncertainties that warrant follow-ups.
Collecting Critical Documentation
Beyond police reports, attorneys gather other documentation, like:
- Medical records outlining injuries
- Vehicle repair invoices showing the extent of damage
- Lost income documentation verifying lost wages
Having paper trails strengthens the damages portion of a claim.
Interviewing Witnesses
Eyewitnesses often provide perspectives unaddressed in police reports. The lawyer contacts witnesses to gain additional details while memories are clear. Witness statements add credence.
Requesting Phone Records
Cell phone records may indicate distracted driving through call logs, texts, or app usage and be grounds for punitive damages. The lawyer can formally request phone logs via subpoena if distraction seems likely based on witness accounts or other evidence. These detailed records can reveal damning evidence if a driver was illegally texting, talking on the phone, or otherwise distracted by apps when the crash occurred.
Researching Defensive Driving History
The lawyer can pull full driver history reports from the DMV to document any past traffic citations, at-fault accidents, license suspensions, or other offenses. These reports create a comprehensive profile of the driver’s history that may indicate aggressive or reckless tendencies. Documentation of previous incidents strengthens the negligence claims against habitually dangerous drivers.
Retaining Accident Reconstruction Experts
In major collisions, specialized reconstruction experts analyze debris fields, skid marks, vehicle positions, and more to model the physics of the crash. Their scientific analysis can powerfully demonstrate faults.
Assessing Vehicle Defects
If any suspicion exists of defects like faulty brakes or tires, the lawyer arranges qualified inspections to assess mechanical issues. Defect documentation warrants negligence claims against manufacturers.
Consulting Medical Experts
For severe injuries like brain trauma or spinal cord damage, attorneys retain revered medical experts. Their opinions carry weight in establishing causation between the accident and long-term impairments.
No detail is overlooked. The lawyer becomes a meticulous researcher, assembling an ironclad body of supporting evidence from every angle. This builds maximum leverage with insurance carriers during claim negotiations.
Thorough Investigation Builds the Strongest Case
With representation from an experienced car accident injury firm, clients benefit from sophisticated investigation techniques honed through thousands of local cases. Their seasoned attorneys know how to reconstruct mishaps persuasively to achieve exceptional results for injured clients consistently.
Don’t leave money on the table by trying to handle a car insurance claim yourself without an attorney, combing through debris fields, poring over reports, and conducting extensive interviews. Their fact-finding mission aims to construct the strongest legal arguments, so you receive every penny owed to you.
