Dealing With The Legal Consequences Of Being Broke

Posted on: 2 February 2015

If you were involved in a car accident where there's debate over what actually happened, the first thing you'll want to do is hire a dedicated accident lawyer to assist you. Often times, these "he said, she said" cases can be difficult to win because proving fault isn't easy. Perhaps the other driver involved in the accident claims his or her traffic light was green when the accident occurred, even though you're 100% sure it was red.

In addition to hiring a lawyer to assist you, there are some other steps you can take to increase your chances of success in your case:

Find Credible Witnesses

One of the best ways to boost your credibility in such an accident case is to find witnesses who saw the accident and are willing to testify in court. For example, if a friend or family member was in the car with you and saw the other driver run a red light before smashing into you, ask him or her to not only provide a written statement, but to appear in court as well. If you gathered contact information from any other witnesses, now would also be a good time to follow up with them.

Research the Other Driver's Record

In most states, driving records are a matter of public record. Therefore, you might want to consider contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or equivalent department in the state where your accident occurred to request a copy of the other driver's record.

If he or she has many traffic convictions and you bring this to the attention of the court, you may have a better chance of the judge in your case believing your side of the story. Don't be surprised if you need to pay a nominal fee to obtain the other driver's record, however.

Gather Physical Evidence

Finally, the best way to prove you're telling the truth about your story is to present the judge with physical evidence that proves it. After all, physical evidence is always considered to be better than testimony alone.

For example, if a local business has surveillance camera footage that captures the other driver running a red light before hitting you, you'll want to see about obtaining a copy of this as physical evidence to present in court. Your lawyer may also be able to assist you with ways of obtaining other forms of physical evidence that supports your case.

To learn more, contact a professional like Attorney Robert H. Astor with any questions you have.