What Should I Bring to My First Meeting with a Self-Driving Car Accident Attorney?

Self-driving cars represent a new era of travel, promising a more convenient—and safer—way to get to your destination. However, while the advanced artificial intelligence under the hood can prevent serious accidents, these vehicles are far from foolproof. As a result, self-driving can still cause wrecks, putting others’ lives at risk.  

If you were hurt in such an accident, you’re probably thinking of hiring an attorney to assist with your personal injury claim. Here are a few ways you can prep for your first meeting: 

Photographs of the Wreckage 

The accident scene is often a treasure trove of proof that could help you piece together what happened. Whether it’s damage to the vehicles involved, road markings, debris, or even weather conditions, these elements may hold the clues to who was responsible for causing the wreck. 

As such, taking time to photograph the scene could be one of the most important steps you take. Using your smartphone, you should snap images of any aspects that could help demonstrate liability. Additionally, taking pictures of your injuries at the scene might not only make it easier to tie your condition to the accident, but could also help show the severity of your wounds when it comes time to file your claim. 

Surveillance Camera Footage 

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video could be worth many thousands more. It’s possible that surveillance cameras may have captured footage of the moments before impact, giving others a clear view of what happened.  

While this type of evidence can still be disputed, especially if the recordings are low resolution or don’t show multiple angles of the wreck, they can be used in conjunction with other evidence to help support your claim. Besides surveillance camera recordings, dashcam footage could also be useful to your case. 

Medical Records 

Your attorney will want to see the kinds of injuries you suffered, the treatment you received, and the healthcare interventions you might still require down the line. As such, you should bring along copies of your medical records and any invoices associated with your treatment and other injury-related expenses. 

“Blackbox” Data 

Many self-driving cars keep detailed logs of vehicle performance, tracking metrics such as speed, brake application, geographic location, and many other figures. This information could help show that the driver was liable. For instance, if these logs reveal that the motorist was speeding in the moments before impact, these digits could help demonstrate fault. If you don’t have access to these logs, you shouldn’t worry as your attorney may be able to obtain them on your behalf. 

Discuss Your Case with a California Self-Driving Car Accident Attorney 

Were you involved in a wreck with a Tesla or another type of autonomous vehicle? You may benefit from discussing your case with a personal injury attorney.  

At Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, we have decades of combined experience representing injury victims, and our attorneys have an in-depth understanding of the laws, statutes, and proceedings that might play a role in your self-driving car accident claim. Contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or head over to our contact page HERE to request a free case evaluation with a California self-driving car accident attorney today.