Documents to Show your Attorney after a Motor Vehicle Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident, you may be thinking about hiring an attorney, or may have already retained one. In either case, there are certain documents your attorney will want to see to develop a full understanding of your case and your chance for a recovery.

The following is a list of documents that you may need to show your attorney:

Your insurance policy: If you have an automobile insurance policy, your attorney may want to see it in order to review what type of an insurance recovery you may be entitled to.

Evidence of premium payments: Your attorney will need proof that your automobile insurance policy premiums have been paid. If you have paid your premium, you should have received periodic statements from your insurance company to that effect. Being able to provide your attorney with evidence of your payment will help prove that the policy is "paid up."

Information exchanged at the accident scene: Normally, names and telephone numbers are exchanged between the parties involved in an accident. If you have this information, even if you have already contacted the other parties, make sure to provide it to your attorney.

A copy of the police report: In any accident, the police are called. The police are required to draft an accident report, which often includes a diagram of where the various cars or pedestrians were at the time of the accident. The report will also include the on-scene officer's initial impressions of the cause of the accident. This information is crucial in allowing your attorney to develop a total understanding of your case. Provide your attorney with a copy of the accident report or anything else drafted by the police.

Photographs: If you have pictures of the damaged car and pictures of the accident scene, provide them to your attorney. If you do not have pictures, but believe that the insurance company may have some, let your attorney know about it.

Statements: If you were contacted by your insurance company to obtain a statement from you about the accident, you have a right to have a copy of any statement you gave. If you have a copy, give it to your attorney. If you don't have a copy, let your attorney know that you gave a statement so that he/she can obtain a copy from the representative.