Types of Evidence that Can Help Your Tennessee Car Accident Claim

Every car crash case is won or lost based on how convincing the evidence is. The better the evidence, the more money you are likely to get. Obtaining sufficient evidence involves sending investigators to speak with witnesses, reviewing police reports, and making a thorough study of the accident scene. A qualified Nashville car accident attorney works with your treating doctors and independent physicians, if you are injured, to properly document your medical treatments, physical pain, and emotional suffering to make a case for just compensation.

Evidence at the car accident site

Each case begins with proving that someone else caused your accident. If a person is seriously injured, he/she will likely be taken to the emergency room. Ideally, before going to the ER, the victim or a friend will:

• Get the name, address, driver’s license, and insurance information from the other drivers. The police will routinely ask for this information also.
• Get the names and contact information for any witnesses. This includes names, addresses, and phone numbers.
• Call the police. Local law enforcement should speak to the drivers and witnesses, describe the scene, and help anyone who suffered any type of injury. Police reports are an essential piece of evidence.
• Take photographs. If possible, pictures should be taken of the scene and of the damage to the vehicles. The location and extent of the damage to the vehicles can often show who was at fault for the accident.

In some cases, we work with traffic reconstruction experts to show that another driver caused the collision.

Physical damage

Anyone injured in a Tennessee car crash should again take photos of the car before any work is done. They should get detailed records of any estimates for car repairs and any receipts for fixing the car. The receipts should make clear exactly what work was done and what part of the car was repaired. Car rental receipts should also be obtained for the time you couldn’t drive the car. If the car was totaled, you should get a statement from the car repair shop as to the why it was totaled.

Physical injuries

This evidence is a major portion of your case. The car accident victim should document each health care provider he/she sees, when the visit took place, and the reason for the visit. It is wise to obtain the following records:

• Hospital statements showing the dates of service and the medical treatments for each injury, for ER visits, and for any other reason the victim was in the hospital
• Physician bills and summaries of services
• Medication costs for prescription and over-the-counter drugs
• The costs for any medical devices, such as braces or wheelchairs
• All visits for occupational, rehabilitative, and physical therapy
• The medical records if the victim saw a psychologist, psychiatrist, or mental health counselor
• The results of any diagnostic tests, such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans

Patients should also keep a journal of their daily pain, frustrations, and loss of life’s pleasures.

Related information on Tennessee car accident claims

Breaking Down Your Car Accident Settlement

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer after a Car Accident?

Claiming Lost Wages After a Car Accident Injury

Liability in Tennessee Rental Moving Truck Accidents

Our Gladiators in Suits at the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm don’t just stop at getting the evidence for your side. We also conduct extensive discovery, through written interrogatories, oral depositions, and requests for documents – to discover the at-fault person’s version of the case. We conduct this discovery before the case goes to trial so we can provide the best evidence and the strongest arguments possible. From our offices in Nashville, Hendersonville and Knoxville, our attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis. Or help now, please phone us at 615-425-2500 or fill out our contact form to make an appointment with an aggressive Nashville car crash lawyer today.