Motorcycle Accident Settlement Highlights the Importance of Supporting Evidence

 Posted on May 11, 2017 in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Over the last several years, there has been much written and spoken about the need for police officers to wear video cameras attached to their person when on duty. Public outcry on the matter has grown as police shootings and alleged incidents of officer misconduct have continued to occur across the country. Proponents of mandatory body cameras believe that the recording devices can be used to hold law enforcement personnel fully accountable for their actions. While this may be true, body cameras can also provide supporting evidence in any situation to which the officer may have been a witness, including a motorcycle accident.

Dangerous Driving Leaves Motorcycle Rider Injured

In May of 2015, a middle-aged Watertown man was riding his motorcycle in Naugatuck when, without warning, a pickup truck attempted to turn across traffic. The truck hit the motorcycle, sending the man flying. The rider suffered a number of injuries, including serious damage to his left leg and ankle which required several surgeries. All told, the man incurred more than $100,000 in medical bills and remains partially disabled.

Recovering Damages

The driver of the pickup truck was cited for failure to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic while attempting to turn, but the injured rider struggled to collect compensation from the driver’s insurance company. Earlier this year, the rider filed a lawsuit in Waterbury Superior Court seeking damages and listing more than a dozen reasons that he believed the driver was negligent and liable. The victim’s attorney, however, said that the turning point in the case was the footage of the accident scene captured by the body cameras of the responding police officers. The two sides reached an agreement to settle for $1.5 million.

Finding the Evidence

In any personal injury case, it is crucial to gather as much evidence as possible. As a victim and claimant, the burden of proof is on you to show that the defendant’s actions or negligence directly and proximately caused your injuries. Following a motor vehicle accident, in particular, video evidence can be extremely persuasive and may come from some unexpected sources. Video captured by police body cameras, traffic cameras mounted on utility poles, retail surveillance systems, or even the cell phone of a random passerby can provide the supporting evidence you need to secure the outcome you deserve.

Work With a Skilled Attorney

At Woolf Law Firm, LLC, we understand the challenges you are facing when you have been hurt in an accident. That is why we are committed to helping you collect full compensation for your injuries. We will thoroughly investigate your case looking for any and all evidence that can be used, including video or photographic evidence. To learn more, contact an experienced Hartford personal injury attorney. Call 860-290-8690 for a free, no-obligation consultation today.

Sources:

http://www.ctlawtribune.com/id=1202784433585/Motorcyclist-Struck-by-Pickup-Truck-Settles-for-15M

http://pdfserver.amlaw.com/nlj/Teubner-Complaint.pdf