The role of Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) checks in proving car accident cases should not be underestimated: this number can providecritical information about the car’s owner and manufacturer. This can help yourFort Myers car accident lawyer figure out who is liable for your crash and who should pay financial compensation.
What Is a Car’s VIN?
A VIN is, according to theKelley Blue Book, a 17-digit number that provides critical information about each car’s unique history, including:
- Make and model
- The car’s manufacturer
- The plant where the car was assembled
- The car’s serial number
Can You Check the VIN to See if a Car Was in an Accident?
This is one of the most important roles of VIN checks in proving car accident cases. We can look up a car’s VIN to learn about the vehicle’s entire history, including if it was ever stolen or damaged, how many accidents it has been in, and what kinds of repairs and maintenance it has undergone.
Where Is a VIN Number on a Car?
You can typically find the VIN on the dashboard on the driver’s side, as well as on the inside of the driver’s door. Depending on the manufacturer and the car’s age, the VIN might also be printed under the hood, in the trunk, or elsewhere.
How Do You Check a Car Accident VIN Number?
To run a VIN check on the car that hit you, you will first need that car’s VIN. OurFort Myers personal injury attorneys can find this number by examining the car or by reviewing documentation, such as the vehicle’s registration or the police’s official accident report.
Once we have the number, we can run it through databases, such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA)VIN decoder. Decoders like these break down various parts of the VIN, telling you what each digit means and revealing important information about the vehicle that struck you.
Knowing how to check a car’s VIN for accidents can tell us:
- Whether or not the car was in an accident recently, which can help to prove that this car is the one that hit you
- Who the car’s owner is, which may affect which insurance company you file a claim with
- Whether or not the car was serviced regularly, which could tell us if the owner took good care of the vehicle, or if their mechanic might be liable
- Whether or not the car was ever recalled, which could point to manufacturer negligence
If you wereinjured in a serious crash, you could have multiple legal options. One of the roles of VIN checks in car accident cases is to provide enough information to narrow down your options. That way, your legal representative can focus their attention on the most relevant and promising leads.
What Other Evidence Do You Need to Prove a Car Accident Case?
As useful as the VIN is, it alone is probably not enough to prove your claim or lawsuit. You will need strong evidence from a variety of sources to show that you deserve financial damages from a particular party or parties.
Our auto accident lawyers can thoroughly investigate your crash and compile materials like the following:
- Accident reports from the Fort Myers Police Department (or whichever agency responded to your collision)
- Any photos taken by you or others at the accident scene
- Video footage from traffic or surveillance cameras
- Interviews with eyewitnesses, the car’s owner, and the person driving the car (the owner and the driver are not necessarily the same person)
- Testimony from experts, such as medical doctors or accident reconstructionists
- Your medical records, which detail your injuries and symptoms, and the necessary treatments
- Any documents related to your job and income, such as tax filings or communications with your employer, if you are unable to work for any period of time
When it comes to collecting evidence, a VIN check could help us to better focus our investigation. For example:
- If we find out about a recall or another mechanical issue, we can ask the car’s manufacturer for internal documents about the issue, which will tell us what the manufacturer knew, when they knew it, and whether or not their negligence might have contributed to your injuries.
- We can also see if the manufacturer has a history of negligent behavior in general, which could further support a claim against them.
- By confirming the driver’s identity, we can run a background check and find out if they have a history of reckless driving.
It is generally best to collect as much evidence as possible. The stronger your case file, the harder it may be for the insurance company to undercut your claim.
Our Lawyers Work Hard to Prove Car Accident Cases Like Yours
Withover 75 years of combined experience, our firm knows how to build convincing cases, which includes knowing where the VIN is on a car and using that information to help prove you deserve compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more. Contact the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato at (844) 643-7200 for afree consultation today.