Proving You’re Not at Fault for a Wreck
When a car accident happens, it’s easy to get confused and accept part or all the fault for the wreck. Proving you’re not at fault is vital to proving you’re due compensation for your injuries.
The car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo P.A. will help you every step of the way, from the filing of your claim to the claiming of damages. Our team will help you prove you weren’t responsible for the accident and get your deserved outcome.
Florida’s No-Fault System
Because Florida is considered to be a no-fault state when it comes to car insurance, it is important to be aware of what this entails.
Both drivers in the car accident are entitled to collect payments from their insurance company after a crash has occurred, which means you will first want to file a claim with your insurance. However, you can still obtain proper compensation after a more serious accident.
Keep in mind that this isn’t your only avenue for recovery. If your insurance policy doesn’t cover the full costs of your injuries, or if they refuse to settle fairly, you may have grounds for a lawsuit that covers all your costs in a severe or high-speed collision.
Proving Fault with Evidence
Before you file a claim, you will first want to prove you are not at fault for the accident. To do this, you will want to have enough evidence to support your claim. After the accident occurs, keep in mind the types of evidence you can obtain:
- Pictures – Take pictures of the scene of the accident. This includes damage to both cars, the location of each car, the weather, your injuries, debris, skid marks, and traffic signs. All of these can help you to prove your case. Surveillance cameras may have caught the crash on film, too.
- Police Reports – Police officers are required to fill out reports after accidents. These reports include evidence and other details officers saw when arriving at the scene. After it is filed, you should request an official copy of the report.
- Documents – Other documents, such as car maintenance and hospital bills, should be kept as part of your case. You can also keep transportation receipts, such as towing costs, rental cars, cabs, and more.
- Witnesses – If someone was there to witness the crash, get their statement at contact information. This could play a key part in your case. The witness could be a pedestrian or another driver who saw the accident. Witnesses may also include expert witnesses who can provide expert testimony even if they weren’t present at the scene.
Traffic Laws in Florida
While everyone with a license should understand state traffic laws, the at-fault party may not have been following them. It’s important to understand varying traffic laws, as your clear knowledge is important to your case.
Depending on the type of crash, you may not need to prove anything at all. Certain crashes, such as rear-end collisions, are considered no-doubt crashes because the other driver should have been paying attention closely enough to avoid the accident.
Protect Yourself with a Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident, you may be flustered and scared. In these cases, one of the first things you should do is call a West Palm Beach car accident attorney, like the ones at the Law Offices of Casey D. Shomo, to help you prove your innocence.
Ready to talk to someone? Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you. To get started, call 561-659-6366 or fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
