Establishing Liability After A Car Accident: 3 Top Tips

Even if you’re a careful and competent driver, it isn’t always possible to avoid hazards on the road. With more than 6 million car accidents occurring in America every year, many drivers will experience a collision at some point or another. While the health and well-being of everyone involved will always be your top priority after an accident, establishing liability is extremely important too. By finding out who is responsible for the incident, you can protect your own rights and ensure that the responsible party is held to account. With this in mind, take a look at these three top tips for establishing liability after a car accident:

1. Make Detailed Notes

Try to create a detailed record of how the accident happened as soon as you’re able to do so. Jotting down some bullet points or making an audio recording will help you to remember the finer details surrounding the incident, which could be useful at a later date. The shock and adrenaline that follows a car accident can make it difficult to remember exactly what happened. Similarly, if you sustained serious injuries due to the accident, you might have trouble remembering it. However, keeping a record of any details you remember could help to prove liability in the future. 

2. Take Photographs

If you’re able to do so, take photographs at the scene of the incident. These can be used to gain information about how the accident occurred and, therefore, shed light on who is legally responsible for it. Similarly, you could take photographs of the scene of the accident at a different time and even create a visual record of the injuries you’ve sustained. In addition to this, it may be possible to source footage that shows the accident unfolding. If local businesses or nearby houses have CCTV cameras, for example, this footage could make it easier to determine liability. If you’re worried about gathering evidence following an incident, Car Accident Lawyers can help. As you establish liability and start building a case against the person or people responsible, having experienced car accident lawyers on your side will be invaluable. 

3. Collect Witness Information

If other people saw the accident occur, they are witnesses to the event and might be able to provide details that help to establish liability. Depending on the circumstances and how injured you are, it might be possible for you to ask them to supply their contact information. This will enable your legal team to get in touch with them at a later date and access their account of the accident. If the police were called, they will collect information from witnesses, so there’s no need to worry if you weren’t able to do this yourself. 

Claiming Compensation After A Car Accident

Establishing liability can mean proving that you weren’t responsible for the incident, but it should also determine exactly who is responsible for the injuries you’ve sustained. Following this, you may be eligible to take legal action against them and obtain compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.