- March 30, 2023
- Car Accidents
When you are involved in a car accident, deep down you know exactly what happened. You may not have caught all the details, but you know who was primarily responsible for the crash. Sometimes, it takes an experienced car accident lawyer in Charlotte to prove it.
Your Car Accident Lawyer in Charlotte Will Need Evidence to Prove What Happened
It would be easy if the courts could simply get a statement from each driver stating exactly what happened. Unfortunately, when people are involved in a car accident, the first thing they tend to do is point the finger at the other driver.
It can be extremely frustrating to learn that the other driver is blaming you for the collision. This is why your Charlotte accident attorney will work hard to gather evidence to prove what really happened.
The Police Report Is a Valuable Tool But It Doesn’t Always Tell the Whole Story
One of the most valuable tools in proving your case is the police report. This is one of the major reasons your car accident lawyer in Charlotte tells you to call 911 after any crash.
Some of the information contained in the police report includes the following:
- A description of the accident scene
- Description of the road conditions
- The license, registration, and insurance information for both drivers
- Statements made by the drivers involved
- Name and contact information of any eyewitnesses
- Statements made by these witnesses
- Information on whether either driver was drunk or under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash
This information is helpful. Unfortunately, it cannot answer all the questions that your Charlotte accident attorney may have.
The Police Arrive on the Scene After the Fact
One of the reasons the police report may be lacking is that it was compiled after the fact. In very few cases are police officers actually present when the collision takes place.
This means that the officers may be lacking critical information regarding the crash. The only way to get this information is to look for outside sources. Video recordings happen to be a very helpful tool when it comes to proving liability.
Some Things Cannot Be Determined During the Police Investigation
It’s important to remember that police officers are human. Not only do they make mistakes, but they are going to miss things now and then.
Unfortunately for your Charlotte accident attorney, this is not good enough. At some point, your attorney will need unbiased and incontrovertible evidence to prove that the defendant was at fault. Video recordings can do this.
Your Charlotte Accident Attorney Will Also Talk to Witnesses
Once your Charlotte accident attorney reviews the police report, they will reach out to eyewitnesses. They will ask the witnesses what they saw and see if it lends credibility to your position.
One of the problems is that eyewitness testimony is not perfect. People see things differently and perceive them differently. They may not remember exactly what they saw. As helpful as an eyewitness can be, it is not always the linchpin your car accident lawyer in Charlotte needs.
Most People Aren’t Willing to Get Involved in a Stranger’s Car Accident Lawsuit
The other thing you need to keep in mind is that most people want nothing to do with a stranger’s car accident lawsuit. It is hard to imagine that somebody would want to miss a day or two from work simply because they happened to witness a car crash a month or two prior.
This means that your Charlotte accident attorney will need to find alternate sources of proof. Video recordings offer the unbiased view they need and do not suffer from the flaw of human memory and bias.
Video Recordings Carry More Weight for Several Reasons
It should not be surprising that video recordings carry a lot more weight than witness statements. They certainly carry more weight than a statement made by either driver involved in the crash.
Regardless of where the video was captured, there is a good chance that it has not been tampered with. This will become critically important if your case goes to trial.
Your Charlotte Accident Attorney Can Authenticate the Video Recording
Before your car accident lawyer in Charlotte can submit a copy of any video, they must have it authenticated. According to court rule GS 8C – 901(b)(10), any piece of evidence, such as a video recording, must be authenticated before it can become admissible.
If need be, your Charlotte accident attorney can hire an expert to confirm that the tape is indeed in pristine condition. Since most cases do not see the inside of a courtroom, this will probably not be necessary in your case. But it is nice to know that it’s available if you need it.
Videos Do Not Lie and Do Not Care Who Wins in Court
One thing our Charlotte accident attorneys like about video recording this is that they do not lie. They do not lie, and they do not forget. In addition, video recordings do not care which side wins.
Even with this in mind, do not be surprised if the defendant’s attorney claims that you doctored the video to help your case. This is why authentication is so important.
What Kind of Video Recordings Will Your Car Accident Lawyer in Charlotte Use?
You may think that the only type of video your car accident lawyer in Charlotte can use is a cell phone video. This is not the case.
There is a host of video recordings that may prove beneficial to your case. These include:
- Dashcam videos
- Bodycam videos
- Cell phone videos
- Intersection cameras
- Red light cameras
- Commercial and residential CCTV cameras
Any or all of these may prove helpful in your case.
Reach Out to a Car Accident Lawyer in Charlotte Sooner Rather Than Later
Ideally, a car accident victim will contact our office within days of the crash. The sooner you speak with one of our car accident lawyers in Charlotte, the sooner they can evaluate your case.
At the same time, we understand that common sense dictates that you wait to see what happens with the insurance company. If the insurance company pays your claim in full, then you would have no need for a Charlotte accident attorney.
It is important to know that they are there if you need them. Our firm offers all new clients a free, initial consultation. This means that you can meet with an experienced Charlotte accident attorney free of charge.
