How Do You Prove Fault in an Auto Accident Case in California?
Unfortunately, hundreds of major car accidents are reported every day across the state of California. According to the California Highway Patrol, more than 250,000 people are injured in highway collisions each year.
California is a ‘fault-based’ auto insurance jurisdiction. The party who was at fault for the crash is legally responsible for paying the damages of the victims. To recover full and fair compensation for your car accident injuries, you need to be ready to present a strong case that proves fault.
Sadly, in many cases, negligent drivers will aggressively deny their own culpability for the crash. Car accident victims should always be ready to get professional legal help. In this article, our skilled San Francisco car accident lawyers highlight four key types of evidence that can be used to help prove fault.
Four Methods to Help Prove Fault in a Car Accident Claim
Admissions by the Defendant
Any statements that a defendant makes to you, to other witnesses, or to the responding police officers are relevant to your accident claim. In many California car accident cases, negligent drivers will make statements at the scene of the crash that suggest they are at fault. In some cases, negligent drivers may even own up to their error or misconduct. In other cases, the negligent driver will make an unintentional admission. Either way, this is important evidence that should be recorded.
The Police Report
If you were involved in a serious crash, the police should be called to the scene of the accident. Once there, they will be tasked with writing an official crash report. This report can be a very important form of evidence in your future auto accident claim. In some cases, the responding police officers may even issue a traffic citation and directly assign blame for the crash.
Video and Photographs
Visual evidence is highly convincing. To the best of your ability, you should try to document your crash with photos and video. The more pictures and videos you take of the collision, the better off you will be if a serious insurance dispute arises. This visual evidence can be used to help recreate the wreck so that you can prove fault.
Witness Statements
Witness testimony is also compelling. This includes statements from you, your passengers, the other people involved in the crash, and any unrelated third parties who may have witnessed the incident. At the scene of your accident, you should try to get the name and contact information of any eyewitnesses who may be able to provide testimony on your behalf. If you are having trouble getting witnesses to help you, your San Francisco car accident lawyer can help you track them down.
Get Help from a Bay Area Auto Accident Lawyer Today
At Bracamontes & Vlasak, we have deep experience representing auto accident victims in Northern California. If liability is disputed in your crash, our California car accident attorneys have skills and diligence required to help you prove fault. For a free consultation, please contact us today. With an office in San Francisco, we represent injured victims throughout the Bay Area.