How Personal Injury Lawyers in Phoenix Build Strong Evidence

Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Builds Digital Evidence

Digital proof helps determine the results of most injury claims. Incidenters’ true activities and behaviors are often captured by cameras and the data of the vehicles involved. A Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix wants to build a result-oriented case, so they need to gather and document the relevant data as soon as possible. When it comes to evidence in a big city like Phoenix, digital evidence makes all the difference between a winning and a losing claim.

The Growing Importance of Digital Records

Along with physical damage in an accident, there are a lot of different sources of electronic evidence. These include videos and recordings of the accident from various vantage points as well as the GPS data from the vehicles involved in the accident. A Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix assesses the possible sources of evidence almost as soon as they take a case.

As opposed to witnesses, digital history offers objective accounts along with exact details such as time and dates. For example: 

  • The order of a traffic light cycle can determine a right of way. 
  • The location can be determined by the police video. 
  • The phone metadata can show the role of a distraction if applicable. 

When these components are preserved properly, the certainty and value of the case.

Legal Safeguards and Early Evidence Preservation

A Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix may send formal evidence preservation notices. These letters compel businesses, property owners, or parties to retain certain relevant digital evidence. They create a request with a record of the request to stop the evidence from being lost.

This is particularly necessary in high commercial areas, where the data is frequently and continuously overwritten in commercial video surveillance systems. 

Remaining Preservation efforts may extend to:

  • Videos of traffic intersections.
  • Footage from dash cameras.
  • Maintenance logs are in an electronic form.
  • Internal incident reports.

Accessing Surveillance and Traffic Footage

There are many intersections and secured private areas around Phoenix. Finding the right camera to utilize can take some work. Personal injury lawyers in Phoenix will work the scene of the accident and try to find businesses, residential units, or even city cameras that could have recorded the accident.

Access could be an issue. Video surveillance will be held by the city/ government and could even be considered a matter of public record. As for private businesses, they will not give out video during the case without a formal letter. If an investigator is able to get that video, which is even for a few seconds. It could show a vehicle moving, a pedestrian going, and can shift the discussions of liability the other way.

Video evidence will show one side clearly, and most likely one side will lose, and the other will win.

Extracting Vehicle and Device Data

Information on vehicles is collected in the vehicle’s black box. This type of system can record the speed, braking, and even when an incident occurs. A Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney could work with a forensics team to get that information.

Mobile devices also generate useful data. For example, location history can prove the travel routes. Call logs and messages can give proof of distractions. There are legal and privacy concerns, so the data must be collected lawfully.

Managing Evidence From Social Media

Social media evidence is often targeted in personal injury disputes. Insurance adjusters look at the public social media accounts. A public social media post can complicate the injury claim. A Personal Injury Lawyer advises clients on public social media posts that have value. 

Additionally, opposite parties have the legal right to post anything that supports the defense of an injury claim. These posts could be saved to reveal in court. Courts require proof that the post is real and that it hasn’t been doctored. If done correctly, social media can show the truth.

Maintaining Chain of Custody

For any type of authentic digital evidence, the integrity of the evidence must remain in the same condition as its original. A Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix keeps the digital evidence with the detailed flip of the uncrossed data on the files. Each of these pieces of data is documented on the chain of custody form. This form shows that the digital files have not been changed. It is often the case that strong procedural foundations determine whether digital evidence is likely to survive the crucible of a courtroom.

Digital Defense for the Claim’s Purpose

Insurance companies’ risk analysis is based on visibility. The more organized and maintained the digital evidence is, the less uncertainty there is for them. The Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix uses this visibility in negotiations. During these negotiations these digital evidence fosters the settlement. 

Final Thoughts

The Personal Injury litigation world has seen a transformation in technology. Electronic evidence has found a place among medical records, witness testimony, and other evidence. A Personal Injury Lawyer in Phoenix knows the value of securing, interpreting, and defending digital evidence. Therefore, they are able to provide a clear competitive edge in injury cases.

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