Motor vehicle collisions rarely leave victims unscathed, often resulting in serious injuries that warrant compensatory damages.
We can start preparing your car accident lawsuit by interviewing eyewitnesses as soon as possible. Preserving their statements can lead to useful testimony that enables us to prove liability, so ask for their phone numbers if you talk to them. We can then proceed with surveying the accident location, obtaining police reports, and organizing proof of damages for your claim. All of this may be necessary to meet the burden of proof, which falls on the plaintiff to show it is more than likely the defendant caused their injuries. Car accident claims must be prepared and filed before the two-year deadline, or victims may not get compensatory damages from negligent drivers.
Call The Reiff Law Firm’s car accident lawyers to schedule a free case assessment at (215) 709-6940.
How to Prepare a Successful Car Accident Compensation Case in Aston, PA
Preparing car accident claims is a multi-step process. We may begin by interviewing eyewitnesses to preserve their statements and memories. Our attorneys may also survey the crash site to uncover potential surveillance footage, obtain accident reports from law enforcement to better understand the incident, and organize proof of your damages so we can satisfy all elements of your car accident claim. Victims must prepare claims to file by the deadline; otherwise, they may lose their chances of recovering damages.
Interview Witnesses
One of the first tasks our car accident lawyers may accomplish regarding your case is interviewing witnesses. After seeing catastrophic accidents, witnesses might stop, pull over, and offer help to victims. They might help victims call 911, take pictures of the crash site, and wait with victims for the police or paramedics to arrive.
If you can do so, talk to witnesses and ask for their phone numbers. With this information, our attorneys can quickly contact witnesses to schedule interviews. During these interviews, we will ask them detailed questions about what they saw and what they can remember about the negligent driver’s actions.
Though you can speak to witnesses to request their contact details, do your best not to discuss the accident with them. Negligent drivers might take note of these conversations at the scene and mention them during your case.
Survey the Crash Location
We can also survey the crash location after the accident, even once the vehicles and debris have been cleared away. Returning to the collision site can give us a better idea of the accident and potential contributing factors, like poor road conditions. Nearby homeowners or business owners with surveillance systems might have footage of your accident, and we can quickly contact them to retrieve it. If you took general photos of the accident, the damage to your vehicle, and the injuries to your person, give them to our lawyers to review at this time.
Obtain Accident Reports
We can use police reports to highlight inconsistencies in a negligent driver’s statements and when outlining a case. Police officers might note the apparent property damage at the scene, a victim’s physical condition, and whether a victim needed medical attention from paramedics. Police accident reports should be filed several days after collisions, and our attorneys can help victims obtain these documents to look for any new or inaccurate information in them. To help ensure police reports are correct and thorough, victims should be candid when speaking with law enforcement at the scene.
Organize Proof of Damages
Our lawyers will focus on organizing proof of your economic and non-economic damages as we prepare your case. Victims must show how an accident has directly impacted their lives to get compensatory damages from negligent drivers. Concrete proof of damages includes medical bills from hospitals and providers. We can keep copies of all charges throughout your treatment to offer a clear timeline of your injuries, physical recovery, and care.
When seeking compensation for lost wages for victims who cannot return to work, our lawyers will present proof of their previous income using tax returns, employment records, and recent paychecks. To further solidify that your lost wages were due to the accident in question, we can get medical experts to testify that your specific injuries currently prevent you from resuming your previous workplace responsibilities. This testimony can lead to compensation for future medical damages and lost wages as well.
Appreciate the Burden of Proof
In civil claims for car accidents, the burden is on the plaintiff to prove it is more likely than not the defendant caused their damages. Because our lawyers urge victims to go to court over accepting unfair settlements, we can prepare claims to meet this burden from the get-go. To prove liability, victims must show that the defendant breached the duty of care they owed the victim. What is typically most difficult is proving that the defendant’s negligence caused the crash and the victim’s injuries and eyewitness statements can greatly help in this regard. Finally, we need to demonstrate that you incurred real damages because of the other driver’s negligence, so tracking your losses instantly is crucial. After we present our evidence and the defense does the same, the jury assigned to your case will determine if we met the burden and may award you compensation based on your proof of damages.
Remember the Filing Deadline
Preparing car accident injury claims is an involved process, and victims must remember the filing deadline in place. According to 42 Pa.C.S. § 5524, Pennsylvania gives plaintiffs two years from crashes to sue negligent drivers. Failing to file by the deadline would lead to a dismissal since courts strictly enforce the statute of limitations unless a rare exception applies, like for minor victims.
Call Our Attorneys in Aston, PA to Discuss Your Case
Call our car accident lawyers at (215) 709-6940 for help with your case from The Reiff Law Firm.
