If you are injured in a vehicle collision, showing it was the other driver’s fault could help you claim compensation. One of the things the police and insurance adjusters may look for is skid marks left by the vehicles involved.
A skid mark can provide a lot of information to those who know how to read them. But what if the other vehicle did not leave any skid marks? What could that tell you about the cause of the crash?
It may mean they didn’t brake
Some drivers drive straight into another person or vehicle without any attempt to brake. They might do this if they intentionally set out to injure someone or decide avoiding a collision is not a priority, such as if they are fleeing from the police.
However, a more likely explanation is that they did not brake because they did not realize they needed to stop. In other words, they were distracted and did not notice you. Or they thought they had the right of way and assumed you would stop (although in this case, they may have still made a belated attempt to brake leaving some skid marks.)
It may mean their tires were not in contact with the road
You are found unconscious in your car in a ditch, with no idea how you got there. There are no signs of skid marks causing the police to initially think you must have just lost control of your vehicle. Then they notice a dent in your car suggesting another vehicle was involved.
If the road was icy or covered in water, there might not be any skid marks because the tires of the other vehicle slid across the ice or planed across the standing water. The ice or water may have disappeared by the time someone discovers you.
Getting help to uncover the truth about why a vehicle collision occurred can increase the chances of getting any compensation you are due.