How Tire Marks Can Be Used As Evidence In Your Car Accident Claim

Photographs, video, proof of damaged property, and documentation highlighting your injuries are all key forms of evidence that you will want to secure. However, one form of evidence that is often overlooked is skidmarks. 

The Houston car accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, would like to elaborate on how you can use tire marks as evidence to prove the responsible driver in your car accident acted negligently. 

Using Tire Marks as Evidence in a Car Accident Case

When a negligent driver is speeding and suddenly brakes in an attempt to avoid a crash, their vehicle, by nature, will leave behind a trail of tire marks on the road.

When investigating a car accident, these tire marks have the potential to paint a fuller picture of exactly what happened prior to the incident. Judging by the length and width of the tire marks, investigators are able to determine several factors about how the accident played out, including the rate at which the vehicle was traveling and how long it took the other driver to stop.

Identifying the Different Types of Tire Marks

As mentioned, visible tire marks left at the scene of the accident can help establish a narrative. Some of the most notable types of tire marks that can help law enforcement agents and insurance investigators understand what may have led up to your accident include:

• Short tire marks: Can show that the negligent driver made an attempt to come to a stop, but had little to no time or distance to prevent the collision from happening. This scenario is most commonly caused by distracted drivers.
• Curvy tire marks: Can identify that the negligent driver lost control of their vehicle and swerved across the road. This can happen as a result of irresponsible driving behaviors in dangerous weather conditions or slippery roads.
• Tire marks that spread over opposing lanes: As the name implies, these types of marks can help indicate that the driver went out of their own lane and into a different lane prior to an accident. It can also indicate that the driver potentially suffered a blow-out, which led to the accident.
• No tire marks: If there are no tire marks left behind at an accident scene, this can indicate that the negligent driver did not make an attempt whatsoever to come to a stop before colliding with another vehicle. This scenario is usually tied to drunk driving incidents, fatigue-related accidents, or faulty vehicle accidents.

Other Key Pieces of Evidence to Collect 

While tire marks can be a vital piece of evidence, they may not always be sufficient forms of evidence on their own. In the event of a car accident, it is crucial to gather all relevant pieces of evidence and post-accident documentation, which can include but is not limited to:

• Any relevant photographs and video footage of the accident that specifically show the injuries inflicted upon you and/or passengers, vehicle and property damages, notable street, and traffic signs/lights, and any other key details that can help support your claim.
• Contact information of the at-fault party, including their full name, phone number, insurance information, type of vehicle, and license plate number.
• The police report once it becomes available.
• All medical receipts, prescriptions, hospital bills, proof of rehabilitation, and doctor’s notes.

Injured in a Car Accident? Seek the Financial Recovery You Deserve!

While nobody ever wants to be involved in a catastrophic car accident, they tend to occur far too often, especially in the city of Houston. Shockingly enough, in 2019, there were a total of 68,682 car accidents that occurred in Houston alone, 240 of them resulting in fatalities.

In the event of a life-changing car accident, you will need the most dependable team of attorneys by your side in order to seek legal action against the at-fault party.

The Houston car accident attorneys of Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, are here to serve car accident victims who have suffered tremendous physical, emotional, and financial damages as the result of another negligent party. We want to do our part to help you get back on your feet by helping you to secure justice and adequate financial compensation for the damages you have suffered. 

Our compassionate and dedicated Houston car accident attorneys will fight day in and day out until we are able to help you secure a favorable outcome. With hundreds of millions collected for our clients, we know how to get the job done right. 

It is important to contact our Houston car accident attorneys as soon as you possibly can, as the Texas statute of limitations will only allow you to file a claim within two (2) years from when the accident occurred.

Contact Lapeze & Johns, PLLC, today to schedule your FREE no-obligation consultation!

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