Three Things To Help Your Accident Lawyer Build a Stronger Case
March 8, 2010 by drewloupsen · Leave a Comment
If you’re involved in a car or motorcycle accident, there are several steps you’ll want to take in order to help your Denver car accident attorney build the strongest case possible for you. First of all, make sure that you get information from all the people that are at the scene of the accident. This doesn’t just mean the other driver with whom you were involved in an accident. You’ll also want to get the name and badge number of the officer on the scene as well as contact info for any witnesses. You should also ask the police officer where and when you can get a copy of the final report.
After the chaos of the accident has subsided, one of the first things you’ll want to do is write down all the details of the accident. As you get further away from the incident, you’re likely to forget bits and pieces of it and these small bits a pieces are the kinds of things that will make a difference in court. When you have it written down fresh, you’re getting a more accurate account of the event. Be sure you note the time and day, what position your vehicle was facing and any other issues such as bad weather; anything that might have contributed to the accident could be worth jotting down.
In addition to writing down the details of the accident, consider drawing a diagram. This will help your Denver accident lawyer understand precisely what occurred. Use arrows and simple shapes to draw the diagram. The purpose isn’t artistic but informational. Simple blocks for the vehicles that label each one will suffice – there is no need for creativity here. Make sure you also make a note of things like stop signs, traffic lights, and other road factors that played a role in the case. An accurate diagram will help your car or motorcycle accident attorney understand the details as well as you. This will give him the ability to accurately assess the case and decide how to process with legal action.
Ideally, you want to draw three diagrams. You’ll want to draw the location of vehicles before the accident, during the accident and after the accident. If there are things on the road like skid marks as a result of the accident, make a note of them as well including their direction of travel. If you have access to a camera, take a picture of the skid marks as well as the cars involved in the accident. On a side note, it is always a good idea to have a disposable camera in your car for these types of situations. Disposable cameras are cheap and easily fit in to a glove box or under a seat, but will be invaluable if and when you need one.
Above all else, you should never admit fault nor should you offer the other party to pay for damages. You may think you are at fault but be sure you speak with a car accident lawyer before admitting that you’re at fault. The other driver may be thinking the exact same thing (the accident was their fault), so do not expose yourself to blame until the case is investigated. If there was drugs or alcohol involved, you may also need to speak with a Denver DUI attorney. Now, if a police officer gives you a ticket, you need to sign it. Failing to do so can land you in jail, something you, no doubt, don’t want. Signing the document does not mean you are guilty; it just means you’re going to pay the fine or contest the ticket in a court of law.