Investigating Your Auto Accident

Investigating the cause of an auto accident takes meticulous evaluation of all the details surrounding your crash. Depending on the nature of your accident, an auto accident attorney at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy may have to consult local officials or special investigators to properly investigate your accident. “By far the most important thing you can do after an accident, other than receiving medical treatment, is to call a trial lawyer,” said Jeffrey Heller, trial attorney at Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. “The first minutes and days after an accident are crucial for collecting evidence and documenting what happened. Many times, we have been able to obtain significant results for our clients based on the work that is done in the days after an accident.” The local police department where the accident occurred, or often the Ohio State Highway Patrol, will complete a Crash Report about the accident. If the accident happened within a city or township that has its own police department, that department will file the report. If you live in a more rural area, the Ohio State Highway Patrol will typically be the ones to file your report and handle your accident investigation. The Crash Report will usually include the crash photos and details recorded by the officer who responded to the scene of the accident. We will request and obtain your crash report for you. If your accident requires additional investigation beyond a short initial report, the full investigative documents likely will not be available until after the additional investigation is completed.

Accidents Result from a Variety of Causes

• Alcohol and Drugs. Driving under the influence is one of the leading causes of auto accident-related fatalities and injuries.
• Speeding. Though driving above the speed limit by a few miles per hour may not seem that dangerous, often times speeding motorists lose control of their vehicles and cause serious accidents.
• Distracted Driving. Texting while driving isn’t the only form of distracted driving. Something as simple as changing the radio station can divert a driver’s attention long enough that he/she causes a devastating crash.
• Defective Products. Faulty seatbelts or a poorly made car tire could cause an auto accident.

Preserving Evidence

In order to conduct a thorough and successful investigation of your case, it’s imperative that our accident investigation team visits the scene of the accident immediately. In a matter of a couple of days, critical evidence can be disrupted. That’s why it’s crucial that you contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. An investigation team will visit the accident scene to:

• Take photographs or videos of any evidence that could help your case, such as skid marks, debris, and more.
• Document facts about the accident scene, such as traffic signal cycles, flow and patterns; lane configurations; and any visual obstructions at the intersection, such as trees or shrubbery.

Meet One of Our Auto Accident Attorneys

Jeffrey M. Heller is a trial attorney with Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy. During his career, he has tried more than 25 cases to a jury verdict and has obtained more than $3 million in jury verdicts in the past three years alone. Jeff acts quickly for his clients to make sure every piece of evidence that will help their case is preserved immediately. He knows what it takes to win cases in Court and handles his clients’ cases accordingly.

Contact Our Auto Accident Attorneys

As Ohio auto accident attorneys, it’s our job to build the most effective case we can on your behalf. Call us today (216) 230-6352 or complete a free initial consultation form.

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