Collecting Evidence in Woodland Hills Car Accident Claims

Serious car accidents can bring with them a host of consuming problems if you are unfamiliar with insurance or legal claims. If you feel overwhelmed after a vehicle accident injury, having the assistance of experienced legal counsel can make a significant difference.

Evidence is the key factor that determines your compensation after an auto accident injury. Contacting an attorney who can immediately begin collecting and preserving evidence is essential to building the strongest case possible.

The team at Valero Law Group will meet you wherever you are and will act quickly to preserve the evidence needed to build a strong case. We handle the legal heavy lifting so that you can focus on recovery.

If you have questions or need help understanding your options for collecting evidence in Woodland Hills car accident claims, call to speak with an experienced car accident attorney.

Why Does Evidence Matter After a Car Accident?

Compelling evidence that tells a story is the foundation of every successful personal injury claim. This is especially true in car accident cases where the nature of the existing evidence means it is easily lost. Skid marks fade. Drivers repair their vehicles. Road conditions dissipate. Witnesses forget. The earlier an attorney can start collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses, the more helpful the information will be to your case.

Evidence is also necessary to determine the value of a claim. The claim’s worth can vary depending on the type and severity of the injury. An auto accident attorney will investigate, collect evidence, and retain experts to determine your economic and non-economic damages.

Helpful evidence can include:

  • Photos of the vehicles and the accident scene
  • Medical records and official police reports
  • Witness statements
  • Surveillance or dashcam videos
  • Phone records and GPS logs
  • Event data recorder (black box) downloads
  • Vehicle repair estimates
  • Expert evaluations

Collecting this information after a vehicle crash in Woodland Hills takes skill and urgency. Contact our attorneys at Valero Law Group, as we understand how to document every aspect of a case, and will send formal requests to protect evidence from being altered or destroyed.

What California’s Comparative Negligence Rule Means for Collecting Evidence

California drivers have a duty to operate a vehicle with reasonable care. California Civil Code § 1714 states that each person is liable for the results of their intentional, reckless, or negligent actions. A driver is held legally accountable for any accidents and injuries resulting from speeding, running a red light, or aggressive driving.

However, fault in crashes is not usually so clean-cut. California follows a pure comparative fault (comparative negligence) rule, codified in California Civil Code § 1431.2, which allocates responsibility in proportion to the degree of fault. This means that even if a driver partly caused the accident, they can still recover compensation proportionate to their share of the liability. For example, if a jury finds someone 25 percent responsible and awards $100,000 in damages, they can still receive $75,000.

Insurance companies also sometimes use this rule to argue that the injured person was more at fault than they were, thereby avoiding the need to pay out claims. This is why gathering information in Woodland Hills after an auto wreck matters—it is the tool that lawyers use to declare what happened and who was responsible.

Contact a Woodland Hills Vehicle Crash Attorney For Help Collecting Evidence

Acting quickly to gather and preserve evidence can make a meaningful difference in resolving your claim. Valero Law Group will work diligently to collect the necessary records, documents, and expert support. Our team is always available to take your call and will travel to meet you wherever you are.

Call Valero Law Group today to start collecting evidence for your Woodland Hills car accident claim.