Failure to obey a traffic control device is one of the most common causes of accidents, particularly at intersections. In some circumstances, though, both drivers in an accident may claim they had a green light, and thus were not at fault for the accident.
If there are no witnesses, these claims can be difficult to verify. In such a case, the police officer investigating the case might be left to conclude both drivers failed to stop. This can make it difficult for any driver, even one who was obeying the law, to convince their insurance provider that they were not at fault for the accident. But there are still ways to obtain a recovery and overcome lies of the at-fault driver.
Here are some tips.
- Seek camera evidence: If there is a traffic video camera at the intersection, you should immediately request footage via a Freedom of Information Act request. Act quickly, because this footage might not be kept longer than a few weeks. You can also see if any nearby businesses have security footage that could be helpful.
- Accident reconstruction: In some cases, it may be necessary to hire an accident reconstructionist. These professionals carefully analyze the crash site and the condition of the vehicles to determine what happened in the accident.
- Background checks: You may be able to cast doubt on the other driver’s story if a background check reveals any information that could call their credibility into question.
You should make sure to avoid consenting to recorded statements, as even the slightest slip up on a recorded statement could negatively impact your case.
For more information about the steps you should take if you believe the other driver is lying about having the right of way in an accident, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL auto accident lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.