Evidence to Collect After Your Waldorf, MD Auto Accident
If you have been injured in a Waldorf, Maryland, car accident, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and property damages if the other driver is at fault for the accident. Some States have moved in the direction of no-fault auto accident settlements. However, in Maryland, a victim must still prove that the other driver was at fault. Among other things, this means collecting various types of evidence that help prove liability. The four legal elements that must be proven are duty, breach of duty, causation, and injury/damage to property.
With Waldorf, MD, car accidents, duty is often “easy” to prove. Every driver has a duty to be watchful, to be careful to avoid accidents and injuries, and a duty to obey traffic laws. Breach of duty means proving that the other driver failed to do one or more of those things. They were NOT careful, NOT watchful, and/or did NOT obey traffic laws.
Causation is about showing that the accident led to injuries and/or property damage. That is often “easy” but can also require testimony and medical records if the injuries are not self-evident or visible in photographs. An example might be something like a traumatic brain injury.
Concerning the injury or property damage, that too can be “easy.” As an example, with damage to the vehicle, it is often straightforward: photos or testimony that the vehicle was in good condition prior to the accident and then photos showing the car in a wrecked condition. But, as with the traumatic brain injury, proof will be more complicated, requiring medical records and testimony from doctors.
In addition, there are other types of damages that victims suffer when they are involved in St. Mary’s County auto accidents. One major example is lost wages and income while victims are in the hospital and recovering from their injuries. This type of damage will require testimony and employment/earnings records.
From the foregoing, victims can visualize the various types of evidence to collect to help maximize their recovery of compensation. This evidence includes:
- Medical records of all types related to injuries and recovery — this includes ER and ambulance charges, medication, therapies, etc.
- Wage and employment records
- records of other out-of-pocket expenses — like car rental charges
- Photos/video of injuries
- Photos/video and other records related to the vehicle and other property damaged (like things that might have been in the car at the time of the accident)
- Video of the accident from an on-board camera (if such existed)
- Your own testimony about what happened when the accident occurred
- Police reports
- Insurance policies
- And more
It is best to consult with and hire an experienced Waldorf, Maryland, car accident attorney who has successfully handled many car accident cases. Such attorneys — like the ones here at the Law Office of Robert Castro — will be able to collect other types of evidence. These might include information from the vehicles’ “black boxes,” expert opinions and reports, roadside and traffic camera evidence, and more.
Contact Waldorf, MD Personal Injury Attorney Robert Castro Today
This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland personal injury lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Personal Injury lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD 20601.
