Collect These Documents to Give to Your Attorney after a Car Accident
If you have been involved in a car accident certain documents are important for your attorney to review in order to develop a full understanding of your case and your chance for a recovery. The following is a list of documents that your attorney will want to see during the course of your case.
1. Your Insurance Declarations Page and Endorsements. If you have an automobile insurance policy, your attorney will want to see a copy of it to determine the amount of No Fault benefits you are entitled to. In addition, the Declarations Page will show whether you have Un/Underinsured Motorist Benefits available to you.
2. Information Exchanged at the Accident Scene. Typically, names and telephone numbers are exchanged between the parties to an accident while they are still at the scene. If you have this information, even if you have already contacted the other parties involved, make sure to provide it to your attorney.
3. Information Provided by the Police at the Accident Scene. In many cases, the police are called to a scene of an accident. In those situations, they will prepare a field report with a Central Complaint Number on it. You will be given a copy of the field report. An accident report will be drafted by the responding officer. The accident report which often includes a diagram of where the various cars or pedestrians were at the time of the accident. The report will also include the on-scene officer’s initial impressions of the cause of the accident. This information is crucial in allowing your attorney to develop a total understanding of your case. Provide your attorney will a copy of the accident report or anything else drafted by the police. If you do not have a copy of the accident report, your attorney will be able to obtain one on your behalf.
4. Tickets given to you related to the accident. If you have been given a ticket in relation to the accident, make sure to give your attorney a copy.
5. Photographs. If your car was damaged in an accident, it is a good idea to take pictures of the damage. If you did not take pictures, a representative of the insurance company may have. If you have pictures in your possession, provide them to your attorney.
6. Statements. There is a chance, when you are involved in a car accident, that you may be contacted by a representative of your automobile insurance company or the other vehicles insurance company. Often, the insurance adjuster will want you to give a statement from you about the accident. If you were contacted, you have a right to have a copy of any statement you gave. If you have a copy, give it to your attorney. If you do not have a copy, let your attorney know that you gave a statement so he or she can obtain a copy of it.
7. List of Names and Addresses of all Medical Providers. If you are involved in a car accident, and have sustained physical injuries for which you sought medical care and attention, your attorney will need copies of your medical records so that he or she can see what your diagnosis is and get a sense for how long it will take you to recover from your injuries. Provide your attorney with the names and addresses of all of your health care providers and if you have them, copies of any medical records that you have. Your attorney will be able to obtain the records, once you have provided authorization, on your behalf.
8. Pay Records. If you have lost time from work as a result of a car accident, your attorney may be able to obtain compensation for your lost wages either through your No Fault provider or through the other vehicle's insurance company. In order to do so, your attorney will need to calculate how much money you have “lost” as a result of the car accident. Showing your attorneyyour pre-accident earnings and your post-accident earnings will help your attorney make this calculation.
