A great number of car accidents occur each year in Perth Amboy. Often, such accidents are caused by drivers’ careless and reckless behavior. For instance, many crashes occur because drivers distract themselves, drive drunk, and disobey traffic laws.
Fortunately, negligent motorists may be held accountable for accidents they cause. There are several types of monetary damages available to plaintiffs in car accident lawsuits. The amount of damages awarded in a particular case can depend on the extent of injuries suffered by the victim.
If you were injured because of a car accident in Perth Amboy, get help pursuing the financial compensation available to you. Contact our experienced Perth Amboy car accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case review.
Comparative Negligence in Perth Amboy Car Accident Cases
Courts in Perth Amboy will follow a doctrine of modified comparative negligence when assessing the amount of damages to award in car accident lawsuits. This means that damages will be awarded based on percentages of fault. If a defendant driver was 80% at-fault for an accident while you were 20% responsible for the crash, the defendant will be ordered to pay for 80% of damages related to the accident while you will account for the remaining 20% with out-of-pocket expenses.
Defendants and their insurance companies will often try to shift blame for an accident. By shifting fault onto the plaintiff, insurance companies may avoid paying the full value of victims’ cases. Accordingly, the assistance of our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers can be very beneficial when pursuing compensation related to your crash. Our team can help gather the evidence required to prove that a defendant was at-fault.
Common Types of Evidence Used to Prove Fault in Perth Amboy Car Accident Cases
In order for your car accident lawsuit to succeed, you must collect evidence to prove that a negligent defendant caused or contributed to your injuries. There are multiple types of evidence used to establish fault. The following are common types of evidence utilized by our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers:
Accident Reports
A police officer’s accident report is often the first document analyzed by our team when determining who was at fault for a crash. After any car accident, 911 should be called so that an officer may visit the scene to draft an official accident report. An officer’s report may include the following information:
- Statements from drivers
- Statements from witnesses
- Information regarding the property damaged in the crash
- A drawn diagram of the crash
- Notes on how or why the crash occurred
Accordingly, these documents can be very valuable when proving fault. Victims can contact our team for help obtaining a copy of their official accident report.
Witness Testimony
Statements from eyewitnesses can also be very helpful when proving fault for a car crash. Witnesses can help explain the events that occurred before, during, and after an accident. Their testimony can also come in either written or oral form. If you suffered a car accident in Perth Amboy, our attorneys can provide guidance and support when reaching out to potential witnesses for their statements.
Physical Evidence from the Scene
Furthermore, physical evidence from the scene of an accident is also a common type of evidence used to prove who was at fault. For example, drug paraphernalia found at the crash scene may be used to prove that a driver was impaired at the time of an accident. Our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers can help when assessing the relevance of physical evidence found at the scene of your crash.
However, some physical evidence may be difficult to preserve or bring into court. In these cases, other forms of documentation are permitted.
Photo Evidence from the Scene
Photo evidence from the scene can also be valuable to our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers when proving that another driver was at fault for a crash. For instance, photos of a crushed vehicle may be used to show that another driver was travelling at excessive speeds when an accident happened. Therefore, if you suffered a car accident, you should attempt to take photos at the scene if possible.
Additionally, photos from the scene can be used to disprove a defendant’s theories regarding why a crash occurred. For example, a defendant may assert that they ran a red light because of low-visibility weather conditions. In that case, photos from the scene of the accident showing a clear day may be used to disprove the defendant’s theory.
Traffic Camera Footage
Traffic camera footage is used to prove fault in many car accident lawsuits. Like witness statements, traffic camera footage can help explain why a crash happened. However, obtaining relevant footage can be difficult. Parties in control of such evidence may not behave cooperatively. Our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers can help obtain pertinent traffic camera footage in your case.
Expert Witness Testimony
Expert witness testimony is another common type of evidence used to prove fault for a crash. Expert witnesses are considered experts because of their experience, training, and education. These witnesses can be used to explain complex theories regarding why an accident happened.
For example, after an accident caused by a faulty braking system, an engineering expert may be summoned to explain why the parts at issue were defective. Furthermore, after an intersection accident, an accident reconstruction expert may be called to explain how the crash occurred. Our experienced Perth Amboy car accident lawyers can help call on the right experts to support your claim.
Personal Recollections
Lastly, personal recollections can also be valuable to our Perth Amboy car accident lawyers when proving fault. Many victims forget details surrounding their accidents as time goes on. Therefore, if you suffered a car accident, you should attempt to write down your personal recollection of the crash while your memory is fresh. The details you recall may be very important to your case.
If You Were Injured Because of a Car Accident in Perth Amboy, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of a car accident, seek assistance from our experienced Perth Amboy car accident lawyers by calling The Carrion Law Firm at (718) 841-0083 for a free case review.