East Side Wreck Highlights Evidence Collection Techniques
Police are still looking for answers in an East Side collision that involved Mayor Ivy Taylor’s SUV and another passenger vehicle. Gathering evidence is one of the most critical areas of a motor vehicle crash case.
Witnesses gave conflicting accounts of the accident at the intersection of East Houston and North Hackberry in San Antonio. While some stated that the SUV was traveling northbound and the other vehicle, a Chrysler convertible, was moving southbound, others insisted that the opposite was true, so it could not be immediately determined who had the right-of-way.
It is certain that three people were rushed to local hospitals as a result of the collision, but they are expected to survive. The injured included members of the Mayor’s security detail and occupants in the convertible, but not the Mayor herself.
In addition to interviewing witnesses, police are conducting speed tests and examining the scene for additional clues.
Gathering Facts in a Negligence Case
Like many other disciplines in our rapidly-changing world, there are old-school and new-school evidence collection methods. Both of them are invaluable in many respects.
Police are using largely old-school methods as they investigate the East Side wreck. As they talk to witnesses, look for skid marks on the pavement, take pictures, look for additional property damage, like a mangled street sign or a chunk of concrete missing from a curb, they are collecting facts.
An attorney can filter these facts in a way that builds your case. For example, a lawyer can sometimes predict what witnesses will be credible and which ones the jury may not believe. Old-school facts are also useful because they are familiar and easy for the jury to understand.
There are a growing number of new-school methods as well, which may eventually supplant traditional techniques. For example, all new cars must carry an Event Data Recorder, which is similar to the “black box” in commercial airplanes. An EDR records “faults,” such as airbag deployment and brake application. They can record other data as well, including steering wheel angle, rate of speed, seatbelt use, and other critical information. Future cars may well have tiny cameras on the dashboard. In most cases, EDR and any other electronic data cannot be downloaded without a court order, underscoring the need for an aggressive attorney.
If you were injured in an accident, it is important to partner with a lawyer right away, before critical evidence disappears. Contact us today for a free consultation with an aggressive New Braunfels personal injury attorney. We do not charge upfront legal fees in a negligence case.
