When you’ve been seriously hurt in a car accident, it can be difficult to prove your case. Even if the accident is clearly not your fault, the other driver’s insurance company may try to make things look like you were to blame. Or, they may argue it’s a he-said / she-said situation, even if the facts are exceedingly clear.
Fortunately, much like the old TV detective dramas, clues are everywhere. That is, if you know where to look. Sometimes good old fashion crash reconstruction can help. The experienced Kansas City auto accident lawyers of the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm know where to find hidden clues that can help you prove your case. Call today for a free case evaluation, and find out how we may be able to help you recover money for your injuries. Here are five things you can learn just by looking at your vehicle’s damage after an accident.
#1 Direction of Impact
The location of the impact and the manner in which the vehicle crumpled can often be telling of the direction of impact. Say the other driver claims you hit them. If the damage is to the rear quarter panel of your vehicle, then this is practically impossible.
#2 Speed of Impact
In four-way stop accidents, many times the other driver will claim they came to a complete stop, then proceeded. They may lie and say you “ran the stop sign.” Since it’s a he-said / she-said scenario, the insurance company will use this to not pay. But if the side of your vehicle has significant damage, logic tells us that the other driver must have been traveling faster than they claim. In other words, they were not just starting from a stopped position, but rather, they blew through the stop sign.
#3 Stopping or Accelerating at Time of Impact
When a vehicle slams on its brakes, the nose is thrust downward. When a vehicle is accelerating, the nose lifts. In some crashes, you can show that a vehicle was attempting to stop when it impacted, simply by looking at the relative height of the point of impact. The same is true of showing that a vehicle was accelerating at the time of the impact.
#4 Paint Transfer
When paint transfers from one vehicle to another, it shows contact. In multi-vehicle crashes, insurance companies love to argue that “their driver” didn’t actually come into contact with you. Paint transfer can help prove this issue.
#5 Tire Tread
When a driver slams on the brakes to avoid a crash, the tires often skid, leaving a skid mark. Unfortunately, sometimes these skid marks fade or wash away before there is time to photograph them. But don’t despair; look at tires. If a vehicle’s tires show a practically bald and flat portion or heavy scuffing, this can be a compelling sign that the brakes were applied in a rapid and forceful way, right before impact.
Talk to a Kansas City Auto Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been seriously injured by a careless or negligent driver, you deserve to have your medical bills paid and receive compensation for your pain and suffering. At the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm, we will tirelessly put your interests first, aggressively pursuing compensation for your injuries. Call today to schedule a free case evaluation.
