The evidence that is needed for a hit and run accident claim often includes police reports, witness statements, photographic proof, and surveillance footage. It can also help if you have access to vehicle damage, medical records, or financial information.
Details pertaining to all applicable insurance policies also benefit victims of hit and run accident cases. Contact Van Sant Law for legal advice from an Atlanta hit and run accident lawyer who can help you with your case.
Evidence Can Make a Major Difference in Your Claim
A hit-and-run claim often starts with an obvious problem: the person who caused the crash is not standing at the scene to provide insurance information or explain what happened. However, that does not mean there is no evidence.
In fact, a hit-and-run claim can involve many different types of evidence, and each piece can help establish part of the story:
- Photographs can show vehicle damage and the accident scene.
- Medical records can document injuries.
- Witness statements can help establish what happened.
- Surveillance footage can potentially identify the vehicle or driver.
- A police report can provide an official record of the collision.
The evidence does not necessarily need to identify the driver by itself. Several pieces can work together to establish what happened, how the collision occurred, and the losses you experienced afterward.
For an injured person, that distinction matters. You do not necessarily need to understand everything about the hit-and-run yourself before pursuing a claim, and an Atlanta car accident lawyer from Van Sant Law can help you move forward.
Georgia Law Still Considers Fault
Georgia uses a modified comparative fault rule under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33. If an injured plaintiff is partly responsible for the injury or damages, the damages award is reduced in proportion to the plaintiff’s percentage of fault.
A plaintiff who is 50% or more responsible cannot recover damages under the statute. That rule can matter when an insurance company argues that the injured person contributed to the collision. Those arguments need to be tested against the available evidence.
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer from Van Sant Law can investigate the collision and present evidence supporting your position concerning fault. The fact that the other driver fled does not automatically make every question of liability disappear. It does, however, make independent evidence especially valuable.
Physical Evidence Can Help Reconstruct the Collision
Some hit-and-run claims require more than photographs and a police report. Physical evidence from the vehicles, roadway, and surrounding area can help establish how the collision occurred.
These forms of evidence can provide information about the direction and force of an impact:
- Damage patterns
- Debris
- Skid marks
- Vehicle positions
This evidence can become particularly important when the other driver’s account is unavailable. A lawyer at Van Sant Law can determine whether additional investigation or accident reconstruction is appropriate for the circumstances of the claim.
The point is not to add unnecessary steps to every case. It is to identify evidence that can answer important questions when liability or the circumstances of the collision are disputed.
Digital Evidence Can Introduce Another Layer of Proof
Modern vehicles and everyday technology can generate useful evidence for a hit-and-run accident claim. Depending on the circumstances, evidence could include dashcam recordings, photographs taken by witnesses, navigation records, communications, business surveillance, or other digital information.
Not every case will involve every type of evidence. What matters is identifying information that could reasonably help establish the circumstances of the collision. Digital evidence can also have preservation issues. Some systems automatically delete or overwrite information.
At Van Sant Law, a hit-and-run accident attorney can assess which records could matter and take appropriate steps to preserve them.
Insurance Companies Will Examine the Evidence Closely
An insurance company has a financial reason to examine the facts of a claim carefully. That does not mean every insurer will automatically deny a legitimate claim. However, it does mean you should expect the company to evaluate these questions:
- How the collision occurred
- Whether your injuries are connected to the accident
- What treatment you received
- How much you lost financially
A hit-and-run claim can receive additional scrutiny because the at-fault driver is not immediately available to answer for their actions. This is where having organized evidence can make a difference.
With Van Sant Law by your side, your lawyer can communicate with the insurer, provide appropriate documentation, respond to questions, negotiate over the value of the claim, and prepare for litigation if a reasonable settlement cannot be reached.
Multiple Sources of Evidence Can Strengthen Your Claim
There is rarely one piece of evidence that magically proves every part of a hit-and-run accident claim. Instead, a strong claim can develop from several sources that support one another. For example, surveillance footage could establish the vehicle’s presence near the collision.
Witness testimony could provide additional details about the vehicle. Photographs could document the damage. Medical records could establish your injuries. Bills and employment records could document financial losses.
Together, these materials can create a much clearer picture than any one item could provide alone. That is why Van Sant Law’s role is not simply to collect documents. Your lawyer can evaluate how those documents fit together and identify gaps that need additional investigation.
Contact Van Sant Law for Evidence Needed for a Hit and Run Accident Claim
At Van Sant Law, we focus on finding every available source of compensation for our clients. We can also hold the appropriate insurance company or responsible party accountable on your behalf. Our attorneys have over five decades of combined experience helping injury victims.
Our founding attorney, David M. Van Sant, has firsthand experience thanks to his work on the insurance company’s defense. His perspective is a valuable part of our law firm’s approach to personal injury cases. Make the Right Call by contacting us as soon as possible.
We can advocate for you if an insurer evaluates the evidence, questions liability, or attempts to limit the value of your claim. We’ve been serving Georgia residents since 2008, and our lawyers have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. We’re here to help.
