Being involved in a motor vehicle collision is one of the scariest experiences you may have. However, it can also be infuriating if the accident was the result of another driver’s negligence.
If another driver’s carelessness behind the wheel caused you to suffer serious injuries, it is within your rights to seek to hold him or her accountable through the civil court system here in Texas. However, proving that this other person caused your injuries can sometimes be tricky. Below are a couple of tools to help you prove fault in a motor vehicle collision.
What the police say
Police usually respond to car crashes in which people suffer injuries. After a police officer arrives at the scene of your accident and talks to you about it and your injuries, he or she will create an official report. It is a wise move to ask the responding officer how you can obtain a copy of this report as soon as possible after he or she files it.
A police report is a powerful tool in a personal injury case, as it is a written recollection of the police officer’s investigation into your accident. These reports often feature information you may be able to use when attempting to establish liability in a civil claim. For example, an officer may provide information regarding the length of skid marks at the scene, which are indicative of how fast a vehicle was going prior to the impact. The report will probably also contain information regarding any traffic tickets issued after the crash.
What state laws say
Texas traffic laws may also help to support your assertion that the other driver caused your accident and injuries. For instance, a vehicle code that deals with making left turns might be handy if the other driver caused your accident by failing to yield the right of way to you while trying to make a left turn. An attorney can help you to determine which code applies in your car accident case.
Competent proof of negligence is necessary to establish liability in a car crash. Only then will a judge determine claims for monetary damages. If you are successful in your case, you might receive a monetary award that may help you to cover your medical costs, lost wages and other expenses tied to the collision.