When you get injured in a car crash, hiring a lawyer to conduct a car accident investigation is one of the first steps toward seeking just compensation. You do not want to rely on the insurance company’s investigation, as the insurance company will not be investigating with your best interests in mind.
Investigating a car accident involves several steps; and, in most cases, gathering evidence at the crash site will be just the start of the process. With this in mind, here is an overview of what is involved in a car accident investigation in Illinois:
The first step in a car accident investigation is to gather forensic evidence and document the crash site. This should happen as soon after the accident as possible. When you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will send an investigator to the crash site promptly. The investigator will take measurements, take photos and videos, and use other legally recognized means to preserve any available evidence so that your lawyer can use it in court if necessary.
The investigator will also examine traffic patterns and other possible causal factors that might not be immediately apparent from the crash site itself. If you need to prove that the other driver ran a stop sign or turned without the right of way, for example, this could be a critical step in the investigative process.
It will be important to thoroughly examine the damage to each of the vehicles involved in the collision. With this in mind, if it’s not too late, you should contact a lawyer before you get your car, truck, or SUV repaired. While the repair shop may take photos—and your lawyer can review these photos if necessary—it will be better if your lawyer can send an expert to examine each vehicle with a focus on gathering the specific information needed to prove your legal rights.
If the police responded to your car accident, your lawyer will review the police report to determine if it provides any useful information. Although receiving a ticket doesn’t necessarily mean that the other driver is liable for causing the accident, the police report could provide your lawyer with the insights he or she needs to determine where to look for additional evidence of liability.
The police report could identify eye witnesses who saw what happened; or, if necessary, your lawyer may be able to identify eye witnesses through other investigative means. Eye witnesses can provide key information in many cases. If anyone who witnessed the accident is able to provide a sworn statement or testify on your behalf—or even help your lawyer track down evidence from other sources—this could help your claim significantly.
Was your car accident caught on video? If there is a traffic camera or surveillance camera in the vicinity of the crash site, it could hold clear evidence of liability. Or, if someone happened to capture the accident on a dash camera or cell phone camera, tracking down this footage could be the key to recovering the financial compensation you deserve. If any witnesses took photos or videos after the accident, these could prove extremely valuable for your claim as well.
From cell phone records to receipts from bars or liquor stores, various types of documents can also prove extremely valuable—if not essential—in many cases. If it appears that the driver who hit you was distracted or drunk, or if you have a claim against a commercial driver’s employer, obtaining relevant records could be a key step in your lawyer’s car accident investigation.
A car accident investigation can also involve hiring accident reconstructionists, automotive engineers, and/or various other types of experts. If necessary, these experts can examine the evidence that is available and use their expertise to explain why your accident happened and who (or what company) is to blame.
Do you need help protecting your legal rights after a car accident in Illinois? If so, we can get to work immediately gathering the evidence we need to seek the full and fair compensation to which you may be entitled under the law. We are committed to helping accident victims move forward and holding wrongdoers accountable for their actions.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at 312-982-0588 to schedule a FREE case evaluation. We welcome clients from across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas. We handle these cases on a contingency basis, which means you don’t pay unless we win.
