There are 3 million car accident injuries in the United States each year. Some of these accidents could end up in court to determine liability. You could end up receiving financial compensation for damages.
You need to meet with motor vehicle accident attorneys to find out if you have a case or not. You need to present all of the facts so they can see if your case is winnable.
What kind of facts do you need? Documentation, and the more you can provide, the better. Keep reading to learn the top documents to bring to a car accident attorney.
1. Driver’s License
This might not seem that obvious, but you do need to be able to show that you have a valid driver’s license. Motor vehicle accident attorneys on both sides want to know if you have a bad driving history or not.
If you do, your attorney should prepare to handle attempts to discredit you.
2. Police Report
If the police visited the scene of the accident, they likely filed an accident report. The information here will be important to prove your case.
The police report shows if any tickets were issued, the possible causes of the accident, statements from witnesses, and the parties involved in the accident.
3. Insurance Records
An attorney should review your insurance policy to see if you are entitled to financial help from your insurance company.
The police occasionally send a report to insurance companies that have a claim in your case. The attorney should have this report as well.
4. Income Statements
This is important if you missed work due to injuries sustained in the car accident. You can recover lost income but you have to prove how much money you lost.
You should bring pay stubs, bank statements, direct deposit forms, or tip records to show your income.
5. Witness Statements
Statements from witnesses provide additional evidence to prove your case. They may have seen the circumstances leading up to the accident.
They can report if someone was looking down or seemed distracted. They can also talk about the road conditions at the time.
6. Photos and Receipts of Damage
Did you take photos and videos at the scene of the accident? Hand those over to the attorney. If you didn’t take pictures, there’s a chance your insurance company has pictures from the accident. You can request a copy of the pictures.
Receipts of car repairs show your attorney how much damage happened in the accident. They can then determine how much they should ask for in a settlement.
7. Medical Reports
Did you see a medical professional to treat your injuries? Some injuries are common, such as whiplash or back injuries.
Did you visit a chiropractor, emergency room, physical therapist, or get treated by EMS workers? You have to show medical reports to connect your injuries to the accident.
Be Prepared When You Meet Motor Vehicle Accident Attorneys
You don’t need to feel intimidated when you meet with motor vehicle accident attorneys. You do need to be prepared.
This article walked you through the most important documents to bring to car accident lawyers, so they can do a better job for you.
Be sure to check out the other articles on this site!