People typically do their best to follow traffic laws. No one wants a traffic ticket, and people fear the consequences that a collision might generate. Unfortunately, the average trip in a motor vehicle exposes someone to multiple other drivers, not all of whom may be equally safety-conscious.
The person who isn’t to blame for the crash typically wants to hold the other party accountable for causing the wreck. However, not everyone admits when they break the law or make a mistake that causes an expensive collision. In fact, they may lie and try to blame the other motorist for the crash.
How can people prove who is actually to blame for a motor vehicle collision?
With photos and videos
Most people carry around powerful recording devices everywhere they go. Mobile phones can help preserve the scene of a crash if drivers take pictures or record a video before they move the vehicles. In some cases, there may be a dashboard camera in one of the vehicles involved that captured the crash in its entirety. Other times, there might be traffic cameras or security cameras nearby that have relevant footage. Images and videos can go a long way toward proving who was to blame for a collision.
With witness statements
There may have been people present at the time of the crash even if no one had their cameras running. Other drivers and pedestrians might stay at the scene of the crash to provide their contact information or give a statement to law enforcement professionals. The information that they provide can help convince a police officer who actually caused the crash and who may have lied when reporting what occurred.
With mobile phone records
Distracted driving has become one of the most common causes of serious collisions. Police officers or attorneys can sometimes obtain phone records that show someone was actively sending data at the time of a collision. Even when drivers delete information off of their phones or try to hide their devices, the digital records maintained by service providers and app companies could help prove that distraction was to blame for the crash.
The more information people preserve and the more thorough they are when reporting their concerns to police after a collision, the better their chances of securing justice following a car wreck. Proving that another driver was at fault can give people access to insurance coverage and may help them to pursue a lawsuit successfully if insurance isn’t enough to cover their losses.