What Information Do I Need to File a Car Accident Claim?

If you have ever had to file a car accident claim, you may be shocked by the number of documents that you need to submit. The insurance company’s main objective is to establish who is at fault for your accident.

In order to determine the fault, you must provide relevant evidence. This will include the police report and pictures from the scene of the accident. Additionally, other types of evidence, such as medical imaging, photos of your injuries, and past pay stubs, will establish the losses that you have sustained.

If you or a loved one have recently suffered injuries in a crash, our Conway motor vehicle accident attorneys are here to help you recover adequate compensation.

Police Report

According to SC Code §56-5-1260, if there are any injuries, fatalities, or at least $1,000 in property damage, you must report the accident to the police. The officer who responds will complete a collision report, which will contain the following information:

• The date/time/location of the incident
• The names of all parties involved
• Names of any eyewitnesses
• Insurance information and policy numbers of each driver
• The make/model/color of each vehicle
• Road conditions at the time of the accident
• Description of injuries sustained
• Description of vehicle damage
• Diagram of the accident scene
• Who the officer believes is liable for the crash

A motor vehicle accident attorney often uses the police report as a starting point. The report will help your lawyer determine the best way to prove liability in your car accident. If the officer wrote down the names of any witnesses, your attorney may contact them to gather more information about the crash. 

Photographs of the Accident Scene

Any documentation of the scene of the accident, including pictures of vehicle wreckage, skid marks, property damage, and your injuries, can prove invaluable. If the other driver claims that a streetlight was not working, a picture that shows a functioning light can make the insurance company question that person’s credibility. Besides proving fault, photographs immediately following the crash can be used as further evidence of your damages.

Medical Evidence

While a photograph of an open wound or leg fracture can be jarring, the extent of your injuries must be established to receive compensation. To do so, you will need to provide a claims adjuster with medical imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), blood tests, and your physician’s notes. The more evidence you can provide demonstrating the severity of your injuries, the greater the likelihood that you will recover full compensation for your bodily injury claim.

The insurance company may request additional medical evidence documenting the severity of your injuries in a limited time frame. If you need a doctor to fill out additional forms, this can often be difficult to obtain. When you work with the Conway, SC, motor vehicle accident attorneys at The Law Office of L. Morgan Martin, P.A., we can gather this information on your behalf as soon as possible.

Evidence of Lost Wages

If you suffer severe injuries, you most likely have to miss an extended period of time from work. To claim lost wages, you will need to provide the following:

• Evidence of your injuries and probably a note from your healthcare provider;
• Documentation from your employer detailing your time off work and lost income;
• Pay stubs prior to your accident and post-accident (showing wage differences).

Quote from a Certified Mechanic

Depending on the insurance carrier, they may request that you provide a quote from a certified mechanic detailing the cost of repairing your vehicle. South Carolina drivers are required to carry $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident. Unfortunately, this may be insufficient coverage if you were in a serious crash. If your damage is more extensive, then you may need to make a claim through your uninsured motorist coverage.

Reach Out to a Conway Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney

Following a collision, the insurance company will require you to provide sufficient evidence to recover your losses. At The Law Offices of L. Morgan Martin, P.A., we believe that accident victims should not have to jump through hoops to recover just compensation. If you have recently been injured in a collision, do not hesitate to contact our Conway, SC, motor vehicle accident attorneys. To arrange your consultation, contact us online or by phone.