If you’ve been injured in an accident, your attorney will use various methods to produce evidence in your favor. This can include medical records, videos, and expert witness testimony. In addition, your lawyer may seek documentation and statements from other entities. This process is known as discovery.
Visual evidence
Photographs and videos of an accident can be extremely persuasive in personal injury cases. Whether it is security camera footage of an accident or photos taken by a witness, visual evidence can help the jury understand what happened. Pictures of the scene can help prove details of the accident and trauma to the victim.
Photographs and videos can also show weather conditions, other vehicles on the road, and defect parts. In cases where the other driver has fled the scene of the accident, this can be a powerful tool. It can help the jury understand the accident and how the other driver responded to the situation.
Expert witness testimony
If you or your loved one was injured in a car accident, your injury lawyer may be able to produce expert witness testimony to prove your side of the story. But before you hire an expert, it is important to know how the process works. There are several steps your lawyer must take before an expert witness will testify in your favor.
An expert witness can explain the cause of the accident or the circumstances surrounding it. They can also show the effect the injury will have on the victim’s physical and emotional health. In some cases, the accident could have been caused by defective road conditions or road construction. In other cases, an expert witness can provide testimony about how the accident will affect the victim’s ability to return to a normal lifestyle or work.
Expert witness testimony can be difficult to challenge. It requires a lawyer to prove why the expert’s opinion is incorrect or why it should be believed. This can require extensive preparation.
Medical records
When it comes to proving the cause of an injury, medical records can make or break your case. They should be comprehensive, with a detailed description of your injuries, the dates of treatment, and costs. In addition, health care providers are required by law to keep copies of medical records for at least six years. However, you should always consult with a lawyer before submitting your request.
To request records, you will need to fill out a written request stating your reasons for requesting them. You should include your full name, address, social security number, date of birth, and any medical device or test results you received. You can also include a date range in which you want the records to cover. Depending on your case, you may have to pay a fee to obtain the records.
You should be aware that California state law guarantees your right to obtain and amend your medical records. This applies both to the records of another party and to your own. However, you should know that if you are involved in a lawsuit, the hospital or health care provider may be able to deny your request due to privacy laws. However, you can still submit a subpoena to obtain relevant medical records.
Video from nearby businesses
Surveillance video from nearby businesses can be a powerful tool in personal injury cases. Even if two witnesses disagree on details of the accident, security cameras may show the real story. The video can prove that the accident occurred at work. Having video of an accident can also help your injury lawyer prove that the defendant was negligent.