What Type of Evidence Do You Need After a Car Accident in Georgia?

If you’re seeking compensation after a car accident, the burden of proof is on you to show that the other driver is to blame for what happened and that they owe you a specific amount of money as a result.

Considerable evidence is needed after a Georgia car accident to win your case, from medical records to accident scene photos to electronic data regarding the crash. You may even need to employ specialists in fields like accounting and crash reconstruction to bolster your argument.

Given the complexities involved in this process, it’s a good idea to work with an experienced car accident lawyer who understands how to prove fault and pursue maximum compensation.

What Types of Evidence Are Useful in a Georgia Car Accident Claim?

Evidence is a crucial part of winning your car accident claim in Georgia. Your goal is to show that the other driver behaved carelessly or otherwise unsafely, that they caused the accident because of that behavior, and that you suffered specific harm as a result.

The following is some evidence needed after the Georgia car accident that might help:

• Photos of the Accident Scene – Were you able to use your phone to capture pictures at the scene of the collision? If so, these photos could provide valuable perspective on the immediate aftermath of the collision, including the position of the vehicles, the damage they sustained, and any ambient conditions that might affected visibility or traction.

• Security or Dashboard Camera Footage – Even if you could not get photos of the crash yourself, there may still be photographic and video evidence of what happened. Nearby businesses or homes with security cameras might have picked up the crash, as could dashcams on passing vehicles.

• Eyewitness Testimony – Bystanders and other motorists who saw the accident occur can offer an unbiased third-party account of what happened. Their testimony holds particular weight because the outcome of the case does not influence them.

• Post-Accident Vehicle Inspections – The damage to the involved vehicles can give crucial insight into the point and force of impact. Moreover, inspections of the vehicles could reveal if poor maintenance or defective components played a role.

• Medical Records – The diagnostic tests, treatment notes, prescription scripts, and other documentation of the medical care you’ve received can help investigators understand your injuries, their connection to the accident, and the long-term impairment you may suffer as a result.

How Can a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer Help in Gathering Additional Evidence?

As you can see, you may need a large volume of evidence in order to win your case. Fortunately, you do not have to gather this all yourself. A car accident attorney’s job is to build the most compelling case possible on behalf of their client, both to establish another party’s liability for what happened and to maximize the value of the claim through thorough documentation of the client’s losses. An experienced lawyer can gather most of the evidence you’ll need for your claim on your behalf.

Moreover, their legal training and skill allow them to recover critical evidence that you might struggle to turn up yourself. Not only do they know what evidence to look for, but they also know where to find it and how to access it. They can draft and send letters of spoliation to prevent crucial evidence from being destroyed, and they can apply to the court for subpoenas if the at-fault driver or other parties won’t hand over things like cell phone records or event data recorder transcriptions.

Just as important as what your attorney can do for you is what you won’t have to do yourself. While they investigate the accident and track down the crucial evidence on which they’ll build their case, you can focus on resting and getting better.

Can a Police Report of the Accident Help My Claim?

A police report is potentially one of the most useful pieces of evidence in your case. First, it serves as a crucial jumping-off point for further investigation. For example, the report may note the angle of collision, whether inclement weather or other factors may have affected the crash, and the names of witnesses to the event. This and other valuable evidence can give your attorney a good place to start with their own investigation.

Furthermore, while some states exclude police reports from being admitted into evidence at trial under the theory of hearsay, this is not the case in Georgia. Ga. Code § 24-8-803 makes police reports admissible as evidence in civil proceedings so long as other information or circumstances suggest the evidence is unreliable.

What Types of Information Should I Exchange with the Other Driver?

Under Georgia law, anyone involved in a car accident must exchange the following information with other involved parties:

• The name and address of the person who owns the vehicle
• The vehicle’s license number
• The name of the company insuring the vehicle

It’s a good idea to get the other driver’s phone number and email address as well.

How Long After an Accident Can You File a Car Accident Claim in Georgia?

Georgia law gives you two years from the date of a car accident to file your personal injury claim, though certain circumstances could extend or shorten this window. Attempting to file after the deadline has passed will likely result in the dismissal of your claim, regardless of how strong it is otherwise.

Don’t let this happen to you. Instead, get in touch with an experienced Georgia car accident attorney to start your claim right away.

Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer

R. Alan Cleveland, LLC is dedicated to building the strongest cases possible on behalf of Georgia car accident victims. We provide free, no-obligation consultations so you can understand your options without fear of financial risk. Furthermore, we work on a contingency, so you only pay us if and when we win your case.

Let us investigate the crash and recover the crucial evidence you need to demand fair compensation. With more than $150 million recovered to date on behalf of our clients, you can trust in our skill, experience, and track record of success. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation with a Georgia car accident lawyer.