Not many people are aware of how dangerous car accidents are and how often they occur. Ever since cars were first introduced to the roads at the beginning of the 19th century, there have been problems with car accidents. This and a half-ton block of steel and plastic have not only caused a serious problem with traffic, turned streets into places only for cars but have caused too much pain and taken too many lives.
The most common cause of car accidents is nothing other than human error. Driving, especially in America, can be very challenging and always comes with many unpredictable events. Staying sharp and focused is necessary if you want to avoid accidents. Unfortunately, many people think that they are good at multitasking and that they can do it while driving. This often leads to an unnecessary distraction that leads to taking the eyes of the road and increasing the chance of an accident. Here are some tips on proving what happened in a distracted driving accident and how to get compensated.
Hire a lawyer
Hiring a professional in these times of need is very important. You are allowed to prove what happened yourself and do all the hard work, but can you really do it? Insurance companies are a big hassle to deal with. They know every imaginable way of getting out of the situation and prolonging the whole process. They will induce a lot of stress that will just topple on top of the already unwanted situation you are in.
Hiring a lawyer, someone who knows how to deal with all of these tactics will come a long way. To get the most out of your lawyer, you want to look for someone who specializes in accidents involving distracted drivers, as they will have the most experience in dealing with such situations. Hiring them is an investment, but one that will most definitely pay off with you getting the compensation you deserve.
Types of distraction that can occur
Some distractions may be easier to prove than others. Easier kinds to prove are the physical distractions. They include the driver texting, eating, smoking, or anything that includes them doing something physical that can be observed. The other type that is much harder to prove is mental distractions. This means that the driver was daydreaming or thinking about something else other than the road. Whichever case it may be, you will need several proofs of them doing so.
Look for photo and video evidence
Having photos or some videos of the crash’s aftermath can be quite useful in proving the fault. For example, tire marks on the road are a good way of identifying what happened prior to the crash. You can try to look for videos of the crash if it happened near a security camera of a shop, neighbourhood camera, or someone randomly filming at the right moment. If you can get a hold of any of these, they will be of big value at the court.
Do not forget to take pictures of the inside of the other driver’s vehicle. The best way to look for physical evidence is by looking inside the person’s car. Look for food wrapping, cigarette ends, and try to get access to the call and messages logs.
Testimonies
The easiest way of proving that it was the driver’s fault is if they admit to doing so. Some people will be honest and admit it immediately, others may try to get out of this by any means possible. How you approach them and try to make them admit it is their fault depends heavily on the situation.
Luckily, you do not need to extort the other driver into confessing. There are many other testimonies that you can get that will help you win the case. When the accident happens, you will need to call the police as soon as possible. The police findings are very valuable and they will talk to all the present parties so they can make an objective story of what happened. Bystanders are also very important as they are also allowed to make a testimony.
Car accidents are very common and can not be underestimated. Until our cities have ascended out of designs made for cars and until more public transportation is made, there will be more car accidents. The solution of stopping them from happening is the best, but for now, we must do with what we have.
Dealing with accidents is much easier to do if you have a lawyer by your side. They will help you sort everything out and will guarantee you get compensated. To prove that it was the other driver’s fault, you will need hard evidence. Photo and video evidence is very helpful and try to gather as many as you can. Another type of evidence that will help you is witness testimonies from the bystanders that saw what happened.