Sustaining an injury or property damage in a car accident can lead to significant physical and financial setbacks, but individuals who are harmed due to the negligence of others should be able to recover compensation for their losses. The evidence gathered after an accident occurs will be crucial in determining liability, which, in turn, determines who recovers compensation and how much. Here, our car accident lawyers in Boulder want to discuss the importance of documenting evidence after a vehicle accident occurs in Colorado.
What Type of Evidence is Needed After a Colorado Car Accident
No two vehicle accidents are exactly alike, but there are some types of evidence that are common amongst vehicle accident claims in Colorado. Some of the most common types of evidence gathered at the scene of the incident include the following:
- Photographs taken by those at the incident
- Video surveillance footage from cameras nearby or dashcams
- Statements from eyewitnesses or at least contact information of the eyewitnesses
- The police report completed by law enforcement officials
However, this is certainly not a complete list of the types of evidence that could be used to help determine liability after a vehicle accident in Colorado. There may be additional types of evidence that can be obtained later on, depending on the nature of the incident and the need to further investigate liability. Some of the types of evidence that could be useful include:
- Black box data from the vehicles involved
- Mobile device data
- Vehicle maintenance records
- Driving history of the drivers involved
Crash victims may not think that medical bills, proof of lost wages, and property damage estimates are actual evidence, but they are. These types of proof of expenses help establish the overall claim and paint a picture of what happened.
How Will This Gathered Evidence Help Your Claim?
Any evidence gathered in the aftermath of a vehicle accident will help determine liability. Colorado operates with a fault-based vehicle accident process, which means the at-fault driver’s insurance is usually responsible for paying compensation to crash victims.
The insurance carriers involved in the claim will want to see the available evidence. However, we encourage you to approach insurance carriers with caution, even your own insurance carrier. Insurance claims adjusters have one goal in mind, and that is to limit how much compensation they pay for a claim. Even though you may think the evidence offers a slam-dunk view of liability, other parties involved will do what they can to shift liability away from themselves. This can lead to allegations of shared fault.
If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by the actions of another driver, we encourage you to contact a lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can get involved quickly and begin the investigation into the incident. They will be the ones to obtain the evidence needed to prove liability, and they will understand how this evidence helps you recover the compensation you need.
It is important to begin gathering evidence quickly, preferably right after the incident occurs. We understand that injury care and scene safety are the overriding factors right after an accident occurs, but obtaining evidence should also remain a priority when possible. Unfortunately, evidence can disappear or get destroyed relatively quickly after the accident scene is cleared.