Documents To Collect After Your Car Accident
If you or a loved one gets involved in a car accident, you’ll need several documents before you proceed with a claim. To strengthen your position on the case, you’ll need three things. First and most important is a qualified and experienced car accident lawyer in Easton. Then, the fault of the car accident. Finally, the nature and extent of your damages.
Here is the checklist of documents your lawyer can help you to ensure your claim is smooth sailing. They include:
Police Report
The insurance company will need a police report after a vehicle accident. The police officer on the scene or who comes shortly after the accident records an incident report. In the PA accident report, they will note important information like:
- Traffic laws broken
- Statements from the driver, passengers, and witnesses
- Potential causes of the accident
For you to get a copy of the police report on your car accident, contact the law enforcement agency with the following information:
- Names of the persons involved in the accident
- Date and location of the accident
- Name or badge number of the police officer who wrote the report
If there’s no police officer at the scene, it’s up to the drivers involved to file a claim for the accident. The report should clearly state if any party lost their life or if the vehicle involved sustained enough damage to prevent any party from driving from the scene.
Medical Records
If you check into a hospital, even for precautionary reasons, ensure you get copies of the medical records and billing information. Get records on procedures and investigations done, diagnoses made, and the treatment you received.
Getting medical reports from a large health facility may take a few days or weeks. It would help if you frequented the Records Department to get your documents sorted out. Remember to include the following:
- Hospital admission and treatment records
- Emergency medical services used like an ambulance
- Emergency room treatment
- Physical therapy
- Pharmacy prescriptions
- Specialists and other healthcare providers
Proof of Insurance
Proof of insurance should always be in your car, beside the driver’s license. Proof of insurance indicates that you’re up to date with insurance payments and have valid car insurance that meets minimum liability as required by the state.
Basic information includes:
- Name and address of the insurance company
- Effectiveness and expiration date of the policy
- Policyholder’s name
- Policy number and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) number
- Vehicle ID (VIN), model, and the year the vehicle was insured
Proof of Vehicle Value
If your car sustained damage, the insurance is supposed to cater for the necessary repairs. For you to know the correct figure to ask for in your claim, you need to have an estimate of how much the repairs will cost. Sometimes, your attorney will ask for the vehicle’s actual cash value before it sustained damage in the accident.
To estimate your vehicle value, use reputable sources, and for car repair estimates, ask several auto mechanics and auto body shops to get a rough estimate.
Proof of Losses
You’ll need to provide documents to support the losses you are claiming. Proof of losses isn’t one document but various documents. Such as:
- Receipts of out-of-pocket expenses following the accident
- Medical bills
- Vehicle and property damage
- Pay stubs showing lost wages and tax returns
A car accident lawyer in Easton will use all the resources available to help you calculate the total losses accurately. With factual information, your claim will stand in court.
Proof of Income
If the PA car accident required you to take some days off work, you should include that in your claim. You should have well-detailed proof of income lost through tip records, paycheck stubs, and direct deposits. The final document should indicate the amount of income lost because you missed work after the accident.
Find Legal Assistance Today
With the documents stated above, your car accident attorney in Easton, PA, is better positioned to develop a case. Your attorney may request additional records to ensure you get the maximum damages. Call Sharma Law Office at 610-810-5090 and let our car accidents attorney in Easton, PA, help you build a case.