The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reports that there were 198,032 people injured in motor vehicle accidents during 2012. Fortunately for victims, Florida tort law entitles people who are injured by the negligence of others to recover financial compensation for their losses. While liability is apparent in many car accident cases, sometimes significant investigation is necessary in order to gather evidence establishing that a particular party was negligent. In these cases, it is highly advisable for people who have been injured in a car accident to retain an experienced lawyer. An attorney will be able to investigate your claim and collect evidence in support of your position, maximizing your chances of recovery.
Below is information about some of the ways in which your Boca Raton car accident lawyer will investigate your claim.
The discovery process
The phase of litigation known as “discovery” is one of the most effective ways in which a car accident victim can obtain evidence of the other party’s negligence. There are legal devices that an attorney can employ to obtain evidence during discovery. Some of the most commonly used are detailed below.
- Interrogatories – Written questions that must be answered in writing under oath.
- Depositions – An oral interview of an adverse party or witness that is conducted out of court and under oath.
- Requests for admissions of facts – Requests for the adverse party to admit the veracity of certain facts or the authenticity of documents so that these matters do not have to be proven in court.
- Production and inspection – An adverse party is entitled to obtain and inspect documents that may be relevant to the litigation at issue. The kinds of documents that may be requested in a car accident case include medical records, vehicle maintenance records, onboard vehicle computer data, documents identified in answers to interrogatories, and others.
Using expert witnesses or consultants
In some cases, it may be necessary to employ the use of expert witnesses or consultants in order to establish that your accident was the result of another person’s negligence. These consultants can testify to the existence of certain standards or regulations that may be relevant to your case. Examples of the circumstances in which an expert witness may be used include cases involving a complicated accident, commercial vehicles, technical data downloaded from a vehicle’s onboard computer, or those involving auto industry standards. These kinds of expert witnesses can often charge hundreds of dollars per hour, and many car accident victims simply do not have the resources to effectively prepare for litigation. When you retain the lawyers of Lavalle Brown & Ronan, our firm will pay for these up-front costs and not charge you anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Contact a Boca Raton personal injury attorney today to schedule a free case evaluation
Car accidents can leave victims with devastating injuries, substantial medical expenses, damaged property, and an inability to work for an extended period of time. In many cases, people who are injured in a car accident caused by the carelessness of others can bring a legal claim to recover for their losses. Call Lavalle Brown & Ronan in Boca Raton today to find out how we can help you obtain financial compensation for your accident.
