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Steps to Take After a Car Accident An accident in a car can be a devastating experience for all involved. A car crash can result in a variety of losses that include physical injuries, loss of income and medical expenses. A good relationship with an attorney who is specialized in car accidents can help you navigate through the complicated legal processes that follow an accident. They can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Medical Records Medical records are a crucial element of evidence in a variety of legal cases, but the process of obtaining they can be difficult. Insurance companies rely on them to validate injuries and claims. Based on the nature of the accident or treatment, different types of records are required to be submitted for reimbursement. These include medical records, correspondence and narrative reports from doctors as well as billing information, and many more. These records are vital to a car accident attorney because they can provide evidence of the severity and cause of injuries. This is difficult to prove without them. They can also be used to determine who is accountable for the cost of the damages. After receiving authorization from their clients, doctors who treat accident victims often release the necessary medical records. These records are usually few years old, and give lawyers to make an assessment of the person's life prior to and after the accident. Another reason that medical records are crucial is that they can show whether a patient has a pre-existing condition that exacerbated or aggravated their injuries after the accident. If a condition is diagnosed prior to an accident, but it becomes worse in the aftermath, it could indicate negligence. Aside from proving that accidents caused injuries, medical records can also be used to document the extent of the injuries and provide a breakdown of treatment costs. The information is usually contained in a CCR or a health summary. It is a standard format which can be utilized and understood by various electronic medical record systems. Other kinds of information that could be found in a medical file are demographics and vital signs. These data can be used to determine the person's gender, age, race, and religious beliefs. It is also common to see emergency contact information in a medical record like addresses and numbers for cell phones. This information might be needed when a patient is in need of immediate medical attention in the event of an accident. car accident attorney charlotte can also obtain medical records by subpoena. This is a lengthy and complex procedure and it is recommended to hire an experienced attorney who has the resources to ensure that your rights are secured. Photographs Photographs are an essential tool for an attorney in a car accident to make use of in the case. They can help paint an image of the accident and show the damage, and establish the legality of an injury lawsuit. They can also help refresh people's memories when they are not at the scene of the accident. If you want to get the most out of your photos it is best to capture them on the spot. If this is not possible there are other ways to capture the scene of the accident. For example, if you're injured and are unable to walk, ask someone at the scene to take photographs of your injuries and the damage to your vehicle. Take pictures of nearby street signs, lights and signals. This will help you prove liability if another driver was speeding or running a red-light. If the accident happened on a road it's also a good idea to snap photos of the road, especially when it was rainy or snowy at the time of the crash. This can help an attorney in a car accident establish that the other driver was traveling in unsafe conditions and therefore at fault for the accident. It's also a good idea, if the skid marks are still visible after the accident, to take a photo of them. These could indicate that the other driver tried to avoid a collision but was driving too fast for the conditions. When presenting your case before jurors, it is best to prepare the most evidence possible. This includes pictures of the accident witnesses, police officers, and vehicles involved in the accident. Your attorney may also use photographs to document your injuries as well as the effects of the accident on your life. This could include physical pain as well as emotional stress and mental trauma. Include medical expenses and lost wages. Economic damages can be recovered through an insurance claim. Non-economic damages can be awarded in a personal injury lawsuit including pain and suffering, impairment or loss of enjoyment life and future lost income. Witnesses One of the most important actions you can take following an accident in your car is to obtain witnesses. This will allow you and your lawyer prove that the other party was responsible for the incident. It is also important to locate witnesses as soon as you can after the accident, because a witness's credibility can be diminished if they've not been seen or heard from within a few days. You can ask witnesses for help, such as nearby residents, police officers and emergency responders. In assessing the credibility of a witness jurors, judges and insurance adjusters look at various aspects. One of them is how well the witness recalls the incident, their experiences with car accidents in the past, and their mental health at the time. The place of the accident is an additional element. If the witness was driving or otherwise distracted during the time of the accident it won't be as credible as someone with an unobstructed view of what was happening. Pedestrians can be excellent witnesses because they are able to see everything at a glance, and are not distracted by cell phones, music or other distractions. They are often the first to arrive at the scene of a crime, and can provide a full account. Employees of nearby companies are excellent witnesses as they can offer insight into what caused the accident, including construction zones or other conditions that made driving through the area more difficult. They can inform you of the amount of time they were there, how close to the accident it occurred, and if they observed any unsafe or reckless driving behavior by other drivers. Passenger witnesses can also be great witnesses, but they are difficult witnesses. They are typically relatives or friends of those who were involved in the incident. It is difficult for a court determine their credibility and bias. Witnesses are crucial to a car accident lawyer's success at the court, irrespective of their background. They can provide details about the car crash and the injuries sustained by the victim, as well as their personal experiences. In certain cases they may even be able to explain the accident to jurors in a manner that can convince the jury that you're entitled to compensation for your damages. Statements Many victims are asked to provide a written statement by their insurance company following an accident. This is to help the adjuster to better understand the circumstances of the accident and decide on how much coverage should be granted. You might accidentally say something that could harm your case, or your credibility as the claimant. You might claim that you were okay after the accident but you suffered serious injuries. A lawyer who is involved in a car accident will review any statements made by you or any other party involved in the crash, to ensure that they are true and consistent. An attorney can also use these statements in court when there is dispute over damage or fault. Inconsistencies in your statements with what was told witnesses or by law enforcement officials are often used by insurance companies to discredit your claim. Additionally, if fail to mention any previous incidents, the insurer could claim that you are not telling the truth in your current statement which could decrease the value of your claim or even deny it completely. A car accident attorney with years of experience will know how to best handle these issues, and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. They will also assist you avoid making errors that could lower the value of your claim or damage your credibility. Despite the efforts of the insurance company to persuade you to give an account, it's not always in your best interest. An experienced attorney for car accidents will handle all communication with the insurance company on your behalf, including negotiations for your settlement as well as defending your case in court. One of the most important things that an attorney for car accidents can do is to protect you from being swayed into accepting a bargain from the insurance company. They can also help negotiate an equitable settlement to ensure that you get all the compensation you're entitled to for the medical bills and injuries. Insurance companies are experts in exploiting injured victims. They are always trying to reduce claims or to deny compensation to victims of accidents. It is imperative to get in touch with a lawyer immediately following an accident to ensure you are not being treated unfairly by the insurance company.