If you have been in a car accident, you might be wondering what documentation you need to provide to support your claim. Most likely, you won't need to provide a diagram of the car accident if you are reporting it to your auto insurance carrier, but in some cases, you might be required to provide a diagram to the department of transportation.
In that situation, your insurance agent or a personal injury attorney can help you with the diagramming of the auto accident. In the diagram, you need to indicate where each vehicle was located, the flow of traffic, and the point of impact.
Arrows can indicate the direction of each vehicle involved in the accident. Each vehicle should be numbered and streets should be indicated to present a clear picture of the area.
If possible, get photos of the area where the crash occurred.
What Does an Accident Diagram Entail?
If you are required to diagram the auto accident, you can either sketch it out by hand or use an online program to help you. The diagram can be beneficial in helping you with a personal injury claim. When you create the diagram, you have to show the locations of the vehicles throughout the accident process.
Claims going to court or arbitration are much more successful when accompanied by a diagram. Attorneys and insurance adjusters often use diagrams when working on a personal injury claim because they are effective in detailing what happened in the course of the crash.
Accident diagrams don't have to be well drawn or attractive, but they do need to convey the idea of what happened during the auto accident.
By visiting Google Earth and looking at the accident site, you can get a better image of the lanes of travel, visibility issues, lights, and more. You can print out a copy of the Google Earth image to attach to your diagram. In some cases, you might be able to draw on top of the Google Earth print out.
You should always have a third party look over your diagram and make sure they understand it correctly before you submit it to the insurance company.
Consult with A Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in an auto accident and you are filing a claim, you should consult with an auto accident injury lawyer. Your attorney can complete any paperwork that you need to have done and even create an accurate and effective accident diagram.
Your attorney will handle all communications and negotiation with the auto insurance company. With the help of a lawyer, you are much more likely to get a fair settlement for the damages that resulted from the auto accident in question.
Working on a contingency basis, your attorney will get paid until they get you money for your damages.
Every state has a statute of limitations, so if you wait too long you might not be eligible to file a claim to recoup damages after your auto accident. Schedule a free case evaluation today.
