If you've been in a car accident an injury attorney in Clarksburg can assist in gathering evidence. In a multi-car crash, you’ll need it so that fault is assigned fairly. If you’ve been in a multi-car crash and need to file a claim, an injury attorney in Clarksburg can discuss with you the importance of evidence. Determining who is at fault for a car accident involving two vehicles can be tough.
Imagine you’ve just been involved in a crash involving three or more cars, such as a rear-end pile-up. The process of portioning out blame — and compensation — may become more difficult.
Why Evidence is Important in a Multi-Car Accident
When you gather evidence after your multi-car accident, there’s a chance it will point to the negligence or recklessness of just one driver. But there’s also a chance that more than one driver may bear some responsibility for the crash. In order to claim the full compensation you truly need to cover damages, not only will you have to furnish evidence that shows each of the other motorists’ roles in the crash, but you also may also have to prove
you played little to no part in causing the accident.
When you file a personal injury claim in West Virginia, the state’s negligence laws can have a huge impact on your case. West Virginia follows the comparative negligence 50 percent rule. This means that you cannot seek any compensation through a personal injury claim if you are found to be 50 percent or more at fault for the crash. If you’re found to be somewhat at fault for the crash, say, 30 percent responsible, any compensation you are entitled to receive will be reduced by 30 percent.
What’s even scarier is that fault for your car accident may be determined by none other than the adjusters who represent the insurance carriers of the other drivers. Because adjusters’ ultimate goals are about keeping the bottom line of their employers as low as possible, you can bet your interests and theirs won’t always coincide. This is why if you’ve suffered an injury, working with an attorney after your Clarksburg accident is crucial to making sure evidence is gathered on your behalf to ensure a fair claim.
Evidence Gathering 101
If you’ve been in a multi-car accident and need to file a personal injury claim, just what kind of evidence can make or break your case? The key with evidence is to show the extent to which the other driver (or drivers) was at fault for your accident.
Strong evidence often includes:
• Photographs at the crash scene showing the vehicles involved;
• Photographs of the damage to your vehicle (perhaps taken at a junk yard or repair shop if you are unable to get photos immediately following the crash);
• Photographs of the skid marks or crash scene surroundings;
• Police reports;
• Security camera or surveillance video footage; and
• Witness testimonies.
