- May 13, 2024
If you were injured in a car crash caused by another driver’s fault, you have the right to obtain compensation for your damages. But how exactly do you prove fault in a car accident? The shortest answer is by hiring an experienced Greenville car wreck lawyer.
But let us discuss this matter in more detail, because you will also have to actively contribute to the success of your car accident claim. Here is the type of evidence that conclusively indicates a driver’s fault for a crash:
1. The Police Report
After a car accident, the first thing you should do is report it to the police. South Carolina Code 56-5-1260 stipulates that any traffic accident resulting in bodily injury or death must be reported to the police. Officers will arrive at the scene of the crash to investigate the incident.
The police officers will prepare a report including their findings. This report is an essential piece of evidence in any car crash claim. You can obtain it either in person or by mail from the Greenville County Public Records for a fee of $3.00 within several days after the accident.
2. Photos and Videos
Photos and videos taken immediately after the crash can help determine how the accident happened and who caused it. This is why you should take out your mobile phone and start documenting the scene immediately after the crash.
In many cases, if you wait until the police officers arrive to investigate, the other driver may attempt to hide compromising evidence, such as the mobile phone they were using when they hit your car.
Also, they may attempt to move the car from the position immediately after the crash. This is not allowed until the police arrive to document the accident, but the driver may do it anyway.
3. Eyewitness Testimonies
When you consult with a Greenville car wreck lawyer, they will ask about any eyewitnesses who can provide testimonies. In most cases, there are many people on the street when a car accident happens.
While some will not want to be involved in your case, others will be willing to help you prove fault in a car accident. Some of them may even have photos and videos they were taking when the accident happened.
These unbiased testimonies are just as valuable as the police report, because the insurance company cannot claim that you manipulated them into taking your side.
4. Traffic Cameras or CCTV Footage
These days, it is difficult to go anywhere in a U.S. city without seeing traffic cameras or surveillance cameras installed on private properties. There’s a good chance that your attorney can find at least one clear video recording showing exactly how the accident happened.
This is the clearest type of evidence proving the other driver’s fault. However, you must let your lawyer obtain and preserve the footage. Otherwise, the insurance adjuster will claim that you tampered with it, and your claim will take longer to settle, until the forensic expertise on the recording is performed.
5. Accident Reconstructionists’ Report
In complex cases, where evidence is scarce, a lawyer will resort to hiring accident reconstruction experts. These are professionals who know how to analyze the dents in vehicles and any other evidence available to recreate the accident.
The 3D animated presentation is accompanied by a report presenting the expert’s professional opinion and description about the most probable accident scenarios. If necessary, an accident reconstructionist can also testify as an expert witness.
Bring Your Evidence to an Experienced Greenville Car Wreck Lawyer!
In order to win compensation, you have to prove fault in a car accident. This is exactly what a skilled Greenville car wreck lawyer does on a daily basis for many accident victims like you. Thus, you should get in touch with an attorney as soon as possible after your crash and bring all the available evidence you have to the initial consultation.
As a new client, this initial consultation is free, so call us to schedule it at 864-310-7897!
