Can Tiremarks Be Used As Evidence In My Car Accident Claim?
by Amber Cortez | November 18th, 2020 | Auto Accident
In the event that you fall victim to a serious car accident that leaves you with devastating bodily injuries, securing quality evidence is going to be essential to prove that the negligence of the other driver caused your damages.
From medical documentation such as x-ray images, doctor’s notes, or medication prescriptions, to digital evidence such as photographs or video of the accident scene, the more evidence preserved, the stronger your claim will be.
One key piece of evidence that may play a pivotal role in proving negligence are tire marks left on the road following your accident.
The McAllen car accident attorney of J.Gonzalez Injury Attorneys is here to further elaborate on how tire marks can be used as evidence in a car accident claim and how they help flesh out the story of how your accident came to be.
Tire Marks Explained
Tire marks occur when a driver is speeding and makes a sharp turn or attempts to immediately stop in order to avoid a collision. In the event that a negligent driver fails to prevent an accident, the type of marks left behind can help to illustrate the specifics that led up to the crash.
The length and width of the tire marks can help investigators determine how the accident came to be and what possible factors may have played a part. Notable types of marks local authorities and insurance adjusters look out for include:
- Short tire marks: These types of marks can show that the negligent driver attempted to brake but without enough space or time to do so effectively. These types of tire marks are often seen in rear-end collisions, accidents involving speeding drivers, or incidents caused by distracted driving.
- Curvy tire marks: These types of marks can establish that a driver lost control of their vehicle at some point and started swerving across the road. Swerving events generally occur when a driver fails to control their vehicle in a responsible manner or is speeding during dangerous weather conditions.
- Tire marks that spread over opposing lanes: As the name implies, these marks can essentially determine that a driver went out of the boundaries of their lane and shifted into an opposing lane prior to an accident. These types of marks can also establish that the driver potentially suffered a blow-out, which then caused the collision.
- No tire marks: If no marks were left at the scene, it could indicate that the negligent driver failed to make any attempt to stop before colliding with another vehicle. A lack of tire marks is often related to impaired driving incidents, faulty vehicle accidents, or fatigue-related accidents.
Additional Pieces of Evidence to Collect Following an Accident
When you are involved in a life-altering car accident as the result of a negligent driver’s actions, collecting all evidence will help to strengthen your claim substantially. While tire mark evidence can serve its purpose, it is always in your best interest to collect as many forms of evidence as possible, including documentation, physical evidence, and other types, such as:
- Photographs and video footage of the accident that show the results of the accident, including bodily damages suffered, vehicle and property damages, the whereabouts of the accident, and key street signs or traffic lights.
- Contact information of the at-fault party, including their full legal name, phone number, vehicle make, license plate number, and insurance information.
- The police report once it becomes available.
- All medical reports, prescribed medication/treatment, hospital bills, rehabilitation proof, and doctor’s notes.
McAllen Car Accident Attorneys Ready to Fight on Your Behalf!
In the event you suffer an atrocious car accident at the hands of a negligent driver, it is important to reach out to the McAllen car accident lawyer of J.Gonzalez Injury Attorneys as soon as you possibly can!
Our attorneys are dedicated to fighting with everything we have in order to help you secure the compensation you deserve for the mental, physical, and emotional damages you have suffered.
