Obtain Police Reports
The police report is one of the most important pieces of evidence about your accident. It contains the responding officer’s official write-up of how they believe the accident happened, what the damage looked like at the scene, if there were injuries involved, and whom the officer believes is at fault.
The contents of the police report — in particular, the officer’s interpretation of fault — inform an accident attorney about the course they need to take in collecting additional evidence and building your case.
Interview Witnesses
Witness statements also offer powerful pieces of evidence in your case. An accident injury lawyer can help find witnesses from the scene and collects statements from them about what they saw.
Evaluate Your Medical Records
In addition to showing you suffered injuries, an attorney must establish a link between the accident and your injuries. To do so, they will evaluate your medical records and, if necessary, discuss your case with a medical expert to establish exactly how the accident could have caused your injuries.
Acquire Expert Witnesses
The opinion of an expert witness carries significant weight both in negotiations with the insurance company and at trial. These expert witnesses might include accident reconstruction experts, medical experts, vocational experts, and more.
Negotiate with Insurers
Recovering compensation from a car accident usually requires negotiating with a representative from an insurance company, and they can be tough negotiators. Insurers have a strong financial incentive to reduce or deny your claim when possible. A skilled accident attorney knows how to keep the upper hand during negotiations, helping you collect the total and fair compensation you deserve.
If Necessary, Go to Trial
Most car accident claims will settle out of court. When this happens, you receive your compensation much more quickly, and you avoid a lengthy, protracted legal process. However, if the negligent driver’s insurance company will not agree to compensate you fairly, a top-rated law firm will not hesitate to file a lawsuit and take your case to a jury trial.