Car accidents are responsible for millions of injuries each year, not to mention, thousands of deaths, too. What’s even more shocking than these numbers is that only one in seven people wear seatbelts when driving.
A car accident is a traumatic experience for any person — even a simple fender bender can cause injury. And the reality is that most of the time, you may not be at fault in a serious car crash, thanks to the neglect of another driver.
This is when you might need to hire a car accident lawyer. Here are the most important car accident documents to bring with you to your first meeting.
1. Your Police Report
When a car accident takes place, police will arrive at the scene shortly afterward to ascertain what happened. While you may think there’s no need to call the police, it’s always advisable, even for minor accidents. In the case of a serious accident, you should call the police right away.
Once they arrive, a police officer will take notes of everything they see at the scene and will speak to everyone involved for their account of events. After this, they will compile a thorough police report of the accident scene.
When you visit your lawyer’s office, you need to bring a copy of this police report with you. It’s a crucial document to help your lawyer build and prove your case.
2. A Copy of Your Insurance Policy
Yes, you’ll need to bring this along to your meeting even if you are at fault in a car accident. Your lawyer will need to take a look at your insurance policy, what it covers, and any other notable details.
Along with this, it’s also important to bring along any correspondence you’ve had with your insurance company since the accident. This could include emails, chat history, text messages, etc. If possible, bring along information about the other party’s insurance policy, too.
3. Any Photographic Evidence You Took
Sure, it’s not always possible to take a step back and snap some photographic evidence of the car accident scene. You, a loved one, or the other driver may have been badly injured. But if you did manage to take some photos of the scene, they can make a dramatic difference in building your case — especially if you are not at fault.
Otherwise, if witnesses were able to take photos of the scene, you could ask them for this photographic evidence to share with your lawyer.
4. A Copy of Your Medical Bills and Doctor’s Reports
Proving your injuries is a huge part of building a strong personal injury case after a car accident. The best way to do this is by offering your lawyer proof of the treatment you received.
Make sure to keep and bring all medical bills with you to your meeting with your lawyer. To add to this, keep your doctor’s reports (or ask for a copy of them) and bring these along, too. This is especially important if your injuries did not show up right after the accident, but you still needed medical treatment, regardless.
5. Reports of Vehicle Damage
If your car was badly damaged in a car accident, no doubt you want to receive a decent amount of compensation for this, too. Ensure that you receive a detailed car damage report from your car mechanic, as well as a repair estimate.
Bring both of these important documents with you so that your lawyer can build this type of compensation into your case.
Get Your Hands on the Right Car Accident Documents
If you don’t have adequate car insurance, this is your reminder that accidents can happen at any time, and it’s best to have peace of mind that you’re covered.
With Insured ASAP, you can sign up for affordable car insurance in seconds. What’s more, we’ll assist in issuing important car accident documents, such as an SR-22 form that states you have active liability insurance required by law in place (this only applies in the states of IL, IN, and TX).
Get a quote today and compare rates from some of the best insurance companies across the U.S.