After a serious T-bone crash, you may be certain the other driver entered the intersection on a red light. However, the other driver or their insurance company may tell a different story. When fault is disputed, several types of evidence can help show what happened.
Here are five sources of evidence that may help establish fault:
1. Dashcam and surveillance footage
Video can provide a clear view of how the crash occurred. Washington law generally requires drivers facing a steady red signal to stop before entering the intersection. Dashcams or cameras from nearby businesses and homes may show which vehicle entered the intersection against the light, how fast the vehicles were moving or what happened immediately before impact.
Businesses and homeowners may routinely delete or overwrite recordings, so identifying available footage early can be important.
2. Witness statements
People who saw the collision may provide details that neither driver can independently confirm. A neutral witness may remember which light was red, where each vehicle was positioned or how the drivers reacted before the crash.
3. Photos from the crash scene
If you can do so safely, photos can preserve details that may disappear after the scene is cleared. Useful images may include:
- Vehicle positions and damage
- Debris and skid marks
- Traffic signals and signs
- The surrounding intersection
These details may help explain the direction and force of the impact.
4. Information from the police investigation
Police officers may document conditions at the scene, identify witnesses and gather other information about the collision. Police investigations can also help identify witnesses and other evidence, although applicable evidence rules determine whether a court may consider information in a police report.
5. Vehicle event data
Some vehicles contain event data recorders that capture information shortly before a crash. Depending on the vehicle, the data may include speed, braking or other movement.
Access to another vehicle’s recorded data may require the owner’s consent, formal discovery or a court order.
How can the evidence strengthen your claim?
One piece of evidence may not tell the whole story of a T-bone crash. Photos, witness accounts, video and vehicle data can become more useful when considered together. Legal guidance can help you identify which evidence matters, address conflicting accounts and understand how the available facts may affect your motor vehicle accident claim.