After a car accident, you certainly have a lot on your plate. You may have catastrophic injuries, and have to spend time in the hospital. You may miss days or weeks of work while you recover. On top of all of that, you may have to face the prospects of expensive vehicle repair. With so much to deal with and so much to pay for, you might feel the temptation to sell your damaged vehicle as quickly as possible so as not to have to worry about repairs, and so that you can put the money to use. But there are a few important things to consider before you make that sale.
The need for evidence
Often, during a negligence and personal injury lawsuit, the issue of who is legally responsible for the injuries and property damage comes down to a question of which party has the most convincing evidence.
Your damaged car or motorcycle, and any pieces that may have broken off of it, are one of the most important pieces of evidence you have to be able to prove that the other driver’s – or the manufacturer’s – negligence was to blame for the accident.
Expert witnesses
If you keep your damaged vehicle until after your lawsuit is over, your attorney will be able to do things such as hire an accident reconstruction expert to examine the damage. The expert will then be able to testify in court as to the cause of the accident.
Even if the damage seems inconclusive in the eyes of a regular member of the jury, an expert will be able to provide analysis that shows the cause of a crash through specific details that most people would miss or wouldn’t understand.
The thought of keeping a totaled or heavily damaged vehicle might not be very appealing, especially when you are facing so many costs. But your vehicle can lend a bolstering effect to your lawsuit that can be the difference between victory or defeat.