What Documents Do You Need After A Car Accident?

After a car accident, there are lots of documents that can help prove your case. The proper documentation is crucial in filing your claim, as it provides direct evidence of fault, damages, and other circumstances surrounding the accident. Whether a serious physical injury, psychological impacts, and/or missed work days resulted, the evidence is in the records you present. These can help maximize the settlement you receive. If you’ve been in a car accident, here are the key documents you need to put together:

Police Report

The police report officially documents the date, time, and location of the accident. Police or emergency responders who arrive on scene will draft a report, which should be available within a few days. It can include an officer’s observations of the accident, as well as proof whether traffic laws were violated. The officer’s identity, names of the drivers involved, and the insurance information of the driver responsible for the car crash should be included.

Photographs

Photos of the accident scene can provide key details including injuries, license plates, damage to cars, who was involved, the location of the vehicles, and direction they were going in. Photographic evidence helps your car accident attorney understand what happened. It can also help an insurance adjuster evaluate a claim. If you’re unable to take photos, first responders, tow truck drivers, body shop mechanics, insurance adjusters, and others can do so.

Witness Statements

Witness accounts may be included in police reports or recorded by an insurance company. They can also be recorded on a cell phone or submitted as written statements. Regardless of their form, witness statements can determine who was at fault for the car accident. They should include the names of the witness and their contact information in case further details or clarifications are needed.

Medical Records and Medical Bills

Severe injuries are not uncommon after car accidents. Compensation for medical expenses is often a large part of a car accident claim. That is why it is crucial to present medical bills associated with ambulance expenses, emergency room/hospital/doctor visits, surgeries, therapies, prescriptions, etc. Test results, lab reports, and medical scans can be incorporated as well. Your health insurance card provides a record too. In addition to proving an accident directly caused harm, these records can determine how much compensation you receive.

Car Insurance Policy

Your insurance policy provides your car accident attorney with important information, including whether you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Responsible parties don’t always have enough insurance coverage, or any at all. But we can still recover compensation through your insurer if you’ve sustained a serious injury. If you’ve had any correspondences with your car insurance company or the other driver’s, provide any letters/emails to your lawyer.

Work Schedule Showing Missed Time

If you’ve missed work due to being injured, your pay stubs and evidence of days off can prove how the accident changed your schedule. Other work records can show whether resulting injuries restricted your ability to fulfill job obligations. With proof of how many days were missed and income you lost, your lawyer can fight for you to be fully compensated for the financial burden.

Contact The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani

A top Los Angeles personal injury law firm, The Law Offices of Jacob Emrani has helped many car accident victims get the full compensation they deserve. We know how a car accident injury can seriously disrupt your life. In addition to providing full legal representation and support, we’ll help organize the documents and records that contain direct proof of your claim. Call 888-952-2952 today for a free case consultation.