After a car accident, the next thing you should do is contact a car accident lawyer. A lawyer will help you build a substantial case against the negligent driver that hit you. However, in order to build your case, they need important documents in order to get a full understanding of what exactly happened in the car accident. Here is a list of 9 important documents to give to your car accident lawyer.
- Your Insurance Policy
An attorney will need to see your automobile insurance policy in order to review the type of recovery you are entitled to getting.
- The Police Report
Following an accident, the first thing you should do is call the police. Once the police arrive, they will conduct a police report, which details the 5 W’s of the accident. They also include a diagram of the accident. This report is crucial for your attorney to obtain since it provides a basic understanding of the events of the accident. If you don’t have one, you can file one with Sutliff & Stout Law Firm for a free police report.
- Photographic Evidence
Photo evidence of your case is detrimental for your case. Providing these photos to your lawyer will help put the pieces of your case together with visual cues.
- Pay Stubs
Don’t wait to provide your lawyer with pay stubs for any work you’ve had to leave due to your accident. Having evidence of your pre-accident earnings and your post-accident earnings will help your lawyer determine the compensation you need back for all the time lost.
- Medical Records
Give your lawyer any medical record copies that you have. One of the main forms of compensation for damages are through injuries, so giving your lawyer any and all medical records regarding your accident injuries is essential. This will help your lawyer determine the cost and the length of treatment and how much compensation you’ll need.
The same goes for psychiatric care. Mental damages are called non-economic damages and they are also considered in your compensation total. Car accidents can cause depression, anxiety, and even PTSD, so psychiatric treatment is also considered for your compensation.
- Witness Statements
If there was a witness present at your accident, make sure to get their statement. Witnesses provide a third party perspective of your accident and can help paint an unbiased picture of your case. Get any witness statement and give them to your lawyer.
- Tickets
If you were given a ticket or a citation during the accident, make sure you give this to your lawyer.
- Information Exchanged
After the collision occurs, personal information is exchanged with the drivers. Provide this to your car accident lawyer for your case.
- Premium Payment Evidence
Just like with the insurance policy, your lawyer will need to see that you’ve been paying your insurance premiums. Providing your lawyer with receipts or cancelled checks is great evidence for your case.