How Can a Calgary Car Accident Lawyer Prove Fault in an Accident?

Car crashes can be very scary, leaving people hurt physically, having to pay a lot of money, and feeling stressed out. Figuring out who is at fault is a very important part of getting fair compensation for losses. In Calgary, establishing who was at fault in a car accident can be hard and usually needs the help of an experienced car accident lawyer. 

These professionals know a lot about the law and have access to the resources they need to help their clients build strong accident claims. Here’s a detailed look at how a Calgary car accident lawyer can prove fault in an accident.

Investigating the Accident Scene

One of the first things a lawyer does is look into the accident scene in great detail. This means getting important pieces of proof like

Photographs and Videos: These show where the cars were, how the road looked, any skid marks, traffic lights, and the weather at the time of the crash.

Police Reports: A police record usually has important information about the accident, including what witnesses said and any traffic violations that may have happened.

Traffic Camera Footages: If the accident happened near a street or an intersection, a lawyer might get surveillance or traffic camera footage to figure out what happened before the crash.

Gathering Eyewitness Testimonies

Accounts from eyewitnesses can be very helpful in establishing fault. A Calgary car accident lawyer will talk to witnesses to get their statements about what they saw. This can include details about how the driver behaved, like going too fast, running a red light, or being rude, which can help figure out who was at fault.

Analyzing Police and Accident Reports

The police record is often one of the best ways to show who was at fault. Most of the time, it has:

  • What a police officer saw at the scene
  • Tickets or charges given to either party
  • First guesses about who might be responsible

A good lawyer will look over this report to find information that supports their client’s case.

Utilizing Expert Witnesses

A car accident lawyer may sometimes ask trained witnesses to give their opinions. Among these experts are:

Accident Reconstruction Specialists: They look at things like damage to the cars, the state of the roads, and the drivers’ speeds to figure out what happened. This helps find out what happened and who was at fault in the accident.

Medical Experts: If injuries are a big part of the claim, medical experts can explain how bad the injuries were and how they were caused by the accident.

Engineers: If the accident was caused by a bad road design, a broken traffic light, or a problem with a car, an engineer may be able to testify as an expert.

Reviewing Traffic Laws

The driving laws and rules in Calgary can also help prove who is at fault. It is possible for a driver to be responsible if they ran a stop sign, didn’t give way, or were busy while driving. By comparing what each person did to these laws, a lawyer will be able to show that the other driver breached their duty of care.

Examining Physical Evidence

There may be physical proof from the accident that can help the case. An expert will look at:

Vehicle Damage: The amount and area of damage can show where the accident happened and how hard it hit.

Debris: The way broken glass or car parts are spread out can help reconstruct the crash scene.

Skid Marks: Skid marks on the road can show how people braked, how fast they were going, and how hard they were trying to avoid a crash.

Leveraging Technology

Technology is a very important part of investigating accidents today. This is what lawyers can use:

Black Box Data: A lot of cars have event data recorders (EDRs) that record things like speed, stop use, and steering input before a crash.

GPS and Cell Phone Data: Cell phone records and GPS logs can show if a driver was distracted or going too fast at the time of the crash.

Negotiating with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies often look into events on their own, but their goal is to pay out as little as possible. A lawyer can fight these attempts by showing proof that their client is not at fault. 

Taking issue with fake claims made by the other party’s insurance company providing evidence, such as photos, eyewitness accounts, and expert testimony, to support their client’s stance

Final Words

It can be difficult to prove who was at fault in a car accident, especially if the other driver denies responsibility. A car crash lawyer in Calgary knows how to deal with these issues in a good way. They give their clients the best chance of getting a good result by gathering and presenting strong evidence.

If you were in a car accident in Calgary, you should talk to a good lawyer. They can help protect your rights and let you get the money you earn.

Leave a Comment