Getting into a car accident can have negative life-altering consequences for those involved. Victims of these incidents will likely be facing property damage, emotional trauma as well as injuries that could lead to high out-of-pocket expenses.
Anyone who has experienced an accident like this will have to deal with either their own insurance company or the insurance companies of other drivers involved in the incident. This can be a confusing process, and you may not be sure what types of evidence your insurance provider will use during your claim.
Here at The Law Place, we can clear up any uncertainties with sound legal advice. Our team of qualified attorneys can help you to understand your rights, support you to make a claim, and defend you in court if necessary, to help you receive the amount of compensation you deserve.
Contact The Law Place to receive a free consultation with an injury lawyer near you today on (941) 444-4444.
What Types of Evidence do Insurance Companies Use After a Car Accident?
Following a car accident, insurance companies will look at all available evidence in order to work out how much compensation they will need to pay. This is applicable for claims submitted to your own insurance company, as well as if you’re making a personal injury claim against another driver involved in the crash.
Types of evidence that an insurance company may use to assess your claim include:
Video Surveillance
If your traffic accident took place on a busy road, highway, or car park close to stores, it is likely that surveillance cameras will have captured the incident. After a car accident, any insurance company will use video surveillance in order to determine what took place, what damage was caused, and to try to work out who was at fault.
Video surveillance footage is the most useful type of evidence that insurance companies use as it provides a factual account of the accident as opposed to statements from witnesses or those involved, which could be biased or clouded.
Photographic Evidence
Photographic evidence is another type of evidence used in an insurance claim. This can include photographs of:
- Drivers involved in the accident.
- Damage to vehicles.
- Damage to surrounding property.
- Registration plates of vehicles involved.
- Injuries.
Police Report
Police reports will be conducted at the scene of the incident if a crime has been committed. This could be the case, for example, if your car accident involved a driver who was:
- Driving whilst intoxicated. According to Florida Statute 316.193, a driver is considered ‘under the influence’ if they are operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol of 0.08 or more, if they have taken any illegal substance, or if their normal functions are impaired.
- Asleep at the wheel.
- Driving recklessly, dangerously, or negligently.
- Fleeing the scene of a crime.
- Carrying unregistered firearms or other illegal substances in their vehicle.
You should bear in mind that a police report is not the same as a crash report.
Crash Reports
A crash report is often confused with a police report. However, the two are, in fact, separate pieces of evidence. Whilst a police report is taken from witness statements and assessments of police officers at the scene of a crime, accident reports are compiled later and can include:
- The date, time, and location of the car crash.
- The contact details of those involved.
- Witness statements.
- A diagram of the traffic accident.
- Information about the conditions at the time of the accident, such as icy roads or poor weather.
- The attending police officer’s opinions about who they believe to be at fault.
If you are involved in a car crash in the State of Florida, you are required by law to fill out an accident report online at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website or by mail.
Witness Testimonies
Witness testimonies are usually compiled within the accident report following a car accident. Police officers and investigators will interview all parties involved in order to take down their version of the event.
If you are an accident victim and are taken to the hospital, law enforcement will arrive at the hospital or contact you at a later date in order to take your statement.
Police officers will also take statements from anyone who may have witnessed the event. Insurance companies will be using all available witness testimonies in order to make a decision about the compensation you may be entitled to.
Consulting With Professionals
Insurance companies all have an internal process when it comes to investigating car accidents. Therefore, they will be working with their own in-house professionals who are qualified to look at all available evidence and make an assessment as to the amount of compensation they will pay.
Will a Lawyer Handle My Insurance Company for Me?
Insurance companies in the United States can be tricky to work with. You should remember, they do not always work in your best interest. On the contrary, your insurance company may be working to reduce the amount of compensation they are required to pay you by any means necessary.
Even something as simple as responding to the question, ‘Are you ok?’ with a ‘Yes’ can harm your personal injury claim and can limit the amount of compensation you will receive from your Personal Injury Protection insurance.
As a result of this, it will be the duty of your personal injury lawyer to communicate with your insurance company and handle any paperwork for you. This will make sure that you don’t do anything to jeopardize your claim and help you to receive the amount of compensation you deserve.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day. Contact The Law Place – We Can Communicate With Your Insurance Company
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and are unsure about how to deal with your insurance company, contact The Law Place today. We’re a team of experienced personal injury lawyers who specialize in the field of car accidents.
Our team works around the clock to support our clients through the process of claiming compensation. We’ll liaise with your insurance company for you right from the start of our working relationship to help you achieve the right level of compensation for your case.
If you feel you might be partially or completely to blame for your incident, your insurance company may tell you that you are not entitled to receive any compensation. However, this is not always the case. We can help you to understand your rights whether or not you are to blame for a traffic accident.
Contact The Law Place today for your free consultation on (941) 444-4444.
