In many car crash scenarios, it is quite obvious who is to blame for the wreck. Someone who didn’t stop at an intersection or didn’t check the lane next to them before merging may admit as much when they begin talking to the other driver.
Other times, both motorists may try to lay the blame on one another or one driver may claim ignorance about what happened to cause the crash in hopes of avoiding personal responsibility. Someone who has been injured in a wreck or is worried about how to afford vehicle repairs will want the police report to accurately reflect that they were not at fault for the crash.
Unfortunately, when people lie about such situations, it can be harder for the police to reference accurate information in a crash report. How does someone who knows that the other driver is to blame for a crash prove that so that they can file an insurance claim or a lawsuit if a police report is not accurate?
1. Video footage
There are more cameras than ever recording roads, front yards, parking lots and intersections. Traffic cameras, security systems and even dashboard cameras in vehicles may capture either the collision as it occurs or the moments leading up to the wreck.
Looking for sources of video footage should be something that police officers do, but the drivers involved in a crash could alert them to likely sources of footage to ensure officers don’t overlook anything.
2. Witness statements
Whether there was someone directly behind a vehicle that saw the entire crash or pedestrians feet away at an intersection, there could be people who witness the collision and can explain to a police officer how one driver complied with traffic laws and the other did something clearly illegal or unsafe. Although witness statements are not as authoritative as camera footage, they can certainly help someone prove that the other driver was at fault for the crash.
3. A collision recreation
There are forensic specialists who work independently or with insurance companies and police departments that can reverse engineer a collision with the right information.
Video or pictures of the scene of the crash, the placement of the vehicles and the damage that they suffered could help either skilled professionals or specialized software show what very likely occurred to cause the collision. When expert analysis affirms someone’s claims that the other driver did something unsafe or illegal, that will help them move forward with an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Establishing who is at fault for a motor vehicle collision with the assistance of an experienced legal professional is a crucial first step for those who deserve compensation after a wreck.