What Evidence Do I Need for a Car Crash Claim?

 Posted on December 22, 2025 in Car Accidents

If you are injured in a crash with a negligent driver, you may be left with expensive damages and major losses. Filing a car accident claim against the other driver can help you get payment for your losses, but this takes a detailed investigation. For most people, returning to the scene of the crash to find evidence is not possible. This is only part of why seeing a lawyer after a crash is so important.

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., our Orland Park, IL car accident attorney can help you build a case against the driver responsible for your injuries. As a solo attorney, Jaime Barker will give your case his full attention – your case will not get passed off to a less experienced lawyer.

Do I Need Proof of My Injuries After an Accident on I-80?

Every personal injury case is only as good as the evidence behind it. After any crash — especially on a busy highway like I-80 — you need to get medical attention right away. Even if you feel only a little uncomfortable at first, hidden injuries such as whiplash or internal trauma can take hours or days to appear. A prompt medical exam creates official records that link your condition directly to the accident.

When you see a doctor, hospital, or urgent care provider, be sure to ask for copies of all reports. These include the initial intake form, imaging results, and notes about your diagnosis and treatment plan.

Listen to your provider’s advice and go to every follow-up appointment. Insurance companies will look for gaps in treatment as a reason to reduce or deny claims. Showing a continuous record of care makes it harder for the other side to argue that your injuries came from something else.

Why Is Evidence Important for a 2026 Car Accident Claim?

Even when the cause behind an accident seems clear, insurance companies may still deny or downplay your claim. They look for reasons to limit payouts, and vague or missing evidence gives them that opening. With that in mind, it is critical to build up a strong body of evidence before you move forward with your claim.

The statute of limitations will start running on your case as soon as you are injured. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you only have two years to file a claim. Attorney Jaime Barker can help you document valuable evidence and take action within the time limit of your case.

How Can You Prove Negligence for an Illinois Car Crash? 

To prove negligence, you must show that another driver breached a duty of care and caused your injuries. This usually means establishing that he or she had a legal obligation to drive safely. Furthermore, you must prove that they failed in that duty, and that this failure led directly to your harm. Evidence such as traffic citations, witness statements, and photographs help prove these elements.

Different types of accidents involve different kinds of evidence. Attorney Jaime Barker knows what to look for in these crashes, preserving valuable proof to support your claim.

Drunk Driving Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk drivers are responsible for about 30 percent of all fatal crashes in the country every year. When alcohol is involved in a crash, you will need evidence of the other driver’s impairment.

Police reports documenting breathalyzer or blood-alcohol tests are very important. Video footage from patrol cars, dashboard cameras, or nearby businesses may also have important evidence.

Distracted Driving Collisions

Proving another driver is distracted often requires piecing together small clues. Phone records and the other driver’s driving-monitoring app data can show calls, texts, or app use before the crash.

Our firm will also look for witness statements describing the other driver’s behavior, such as looking down or swerving. Security or traffic cameras may have captured a split-second glance at a phone or another device.

Crashes Caused by Reckless Driving

After a crash, the driver at fault may deny that he or she was driving recklessly. An attorney can look for skid-mark measurements in the accident report, which indicate high or unsafe speeds. Photographs of damage patterns on vehicles and roadside barriers help reconstruct the events. Our firm can also use crash reconstruction techniques to figure out how the accident happened.

Contact a Cook County, IL Car Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of J. Francis Barker, P.C., we are ready to help you pursue just compensation for your damages. Call 708-321-1223 or reach out to our Orland Park, IL personal injury lawyer to set up a free consultation.