Recovering financial compensation for a car accident in Arizona takes proper documentation of the crash. An insurance company will want to see facts and information about the car accident, such as police reports and photographs. In the confusing aftermath of a car accident, it is important to try to gather records that are relevant to your case. These will become evidence for your personal injury or property damage claim.
Police Report
The success of your car accident insurance claim will depend largely on your ability to prove two things: fault for the car accident and your damages sustained. The best way to prove these elements is through ample documentation. Start with the police report, which you can acquire while still at the scene of the car accident. Call 911 after any car accident in Arizona that causes injuries or expensive property damages. You can also call the police for more minor car accidents for better documentation. The police will prepare an accident report with key information about the wreck that you can use for your insurance claim later. Make sure to give the police officer your side of what happened, as well as not to admit fault.
Medical Records
You will not have a personal injury claim without proof of your injuries. Obtain copies of your medical records, including any scans, tests and x-rays, as well as your hospital bills. Any documents related to your injuries or treatment plan could be helpful for your insurance claim. These may include emergency medical services paperwork (such as for an ambulance or intensive care unit), hospital admission, doctor’s appointments, prescriptions, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Keep receipts from your travel expenses connected to medical care as well, such as mileage to the doctor’s office or a hotel stay near a specialist.
Property Damage Estimates
When you bring your damaged car to an insurance-approved mechanic, the auto shop should give you a written estimate of how much it will cost for repairs. If your vehicle is so damaged that it is a total loss, the mechanic should give you written confirmation of this as well. Keep these records to show the insurance company how much it will cost to fix your vehicle. If it is a total loss, obtain a professional evaluation of the pre-accident value of the vehicle. This is the amount the insurance company may owe you to replace your totaled car.
Lost Wage Records
Many car accidents temporarily take victims out of work while they heal from their injuries and go to therapy or rehabilitation. If you had to miss shifts at work due to your auto accident, collect records that show how much you typically make and how many days you had to take off for medical reasons. You can do this using pay stubs, income statements, payment receipts, direct deposit records, screenshots of your bank account and other documents that show the amount of income lost.
Information About the Accident
The insurance company will want to know as much as possible about your auto accident. Obtain records from the accident scene, such as photographs, videos, eyewitness names and statements, and information from the police. Make a copy of your auto insurance policy. Submit the name and policy number of the other driver’s insurance as well.
Write down a thorough description of the car accident while it is still fresh in your mind. Keep an injury journal to document how the crash and your subsequent injuries have affected you physically, emotionally and mentally. The more information, documentation, and records you can submit to an insurance company during an auto accident claim, the better your chances are of receiving a fair settlement. If you need assistance gathering records after an accident in Arizona, contact a Glendale car accident lawyer near you.