Part 4 of Utah Code § 41-6a-401 specifies the duties and responsibilities of drivers involved in a car accident. Besides the statutory responsibilities, both the victim and the at-fault driver should call their Utah car accident attorneys to collect evidence, because if they don’t, the evidence can age and fade out, making their compensation claim trip up on a minor technicality.
Winning a case in a trial, or settling it out of court, requires solid evidence that establishes the identities of the victim and the at-fault party along with the extent of injuries and property damage. Attorneys build a case on as much evidence they can collect at the site, off-site, and from their clients.
Here is a list of collectible evidence in any Utah car accident:
Plaintiff-Related Burden of Proof Evidence
The victim or the injured party has to establish that the at-fault driver caused the accident because of which he sustained injuries and damages to his vehicle.
Seeking medical treatment, reporting the case to the police, talking to witnesses and obtaining their phone numbers, and clicking photographs at the time of injury, etc., are required to build the case. Doing all these in a short time after the accident, and with an eagle eye, can be overwhelming, especially if the victim is injured or disoriented at a time when everything has hit the fan all at once.
Let’s face it – all victims need to call their Utah car accident attorney as soon as possible.
Here’s a list of evidence that the victim or his lawyer should collect after an accident:
- Victim’s version of the accident
- Evidence that you called 911 (if injured)
- Vehicle plate numbers of the cars involved in the accident
- The at-fault driver’s employer’s name (if he was driving a company car)
- Insurance information of the at-fault driver
- Copy of the police report
- Photographs/videos of the accident site, including photographs that depict property damage
- Witnesses’ phone numbers, license plate numbers, and statements
- Insurance claim copy
- Copy of Driver’s Accident Report (if you are required to file one)
- Proof that the victim missed work and lost current and/or future wages
- Medical reports including X-rays, MRIs, diagnostic tests, and doctor bills
Evidence of Property Damages
Car damage accounts for a significant portion of the compensation claim in most cases. Victims and the at-fault parties (in case of comparative negligence) need to work with their respective Utah car accident lawyers and provide them, or enable them, to obtain the following evidence:
- Car repair bills
- Car rental or transportation bills (while the vehicle was being repaired)
- Recent improvements made to the car (the victim can claim the full amount of all recent improvements made to the car before the accident – if these parts were damaged)
Additional Evidence that Lawyers Collect
Utah car accident attorneys also collect the following additional evidence:
- Investigation of the accident site for evidence that the client may have missed
- Interviewing witnesses
- Obtaining depositions (deposition is an out-of-court testimony that is usually recorded by a court employee)
- Interviewing medical and industry experts to determine the long-term impact of the injury and future loss of wages
- Negotiating with insurance companies and recording their feedback
- Negotiating with the other party’s lawyers and recording feedback
- Car accident interrogatories (in writing from the at-fault driver)
FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION OFFER
Collecting evidence in a car accident case is a very difficult and exacting task – and the average Joe just cannot cope with its complexities. Just one minor technical glitch is enough to flip the case on its head.
That is why drivers involved in a car crash need an experienced Utah car accident attorney with a successful track record.
Someone like us.
So, if you or a friend or a relative was recently involved in a car accident, we urge you to take us up on our free initial consultation offer and find out how your case is likely to be evaluated.
We will help you understand the twists and turns, the compensation that can be claimed, the likelihood of success, and the evidence required.
Take advantage of our no-fee, no-obligation session and learn how you can become a sharp litigant or negotiator.
You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
