Types of Evidence Involved in Personal Injury Cases
People involved in accidents resulting in injuries because of another party’s negligence may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. To recover damages in personal injury cases, in addition to hiring a reliable personal injury attorney, claimants will need to be able to prove that negligence resulted in their injuries, which isn’t easy without sufficient evidence.
What Kind of Evidence Do You Need to Prove Negligence?
You won’t be able to reach a favorable settlement in your case if you don’t have enough evidence to prove negligence. With the help of an experienced attorney and strong evidence to support your claim, you’ll be able to increase your chances of receiving full compensation following an accident.
Some of the evidence required in personal injury cases includes:
- Evidence discovered at the scene of the accident
- Documentation such as medical records, bills, proof of lost wages, and police reports
- Video and audio evidence
- Other types of pertinent physical evidence
- Testimony from eyewitnesses and other people present during the accident
The Types of Evidence Used from the Scene of the Accident
The first step to take after sustaining any kind of injury in an accident is to seek medical treatment. Even if your injuries seem minor and you don’t experience any symptoms, your injuries may develop symptoms weeks, months, or even years later, so it’s important to receive medical attention as soon as you can, which could help support your claim.
However, it’s also important to gather evidence at the scene of the accident that may help prove that another’s negligence caused it. Some of the evidence you should collect to present to an attorney later may include:
- A request for emergency services, which can give you the treatment you need while also helping prove the severity of your injuries through the creation of medical records.
- Insurance and contact information of everyone involved in the accident, including their names, driver’s license and license plate numbers, phone numbers, addresses, and contact information for their insurers.
- A police report that officers can put together after calling the police if you’re involved in a traffic collision.
- Photo or video evidence of the scene of the accident, the vehicles involved, and any injuries sustained.
- Eyewitness testimony from pedestrians or other drivers at the scene who can support your claim.
- Liability insurance information from businesses where an accident took place, such as a hotel, retail store, concert venue, restaurant, or amusement park.
Types of Documentation Needed to Support Personal Injury Claims
The majority of evidence that can build your case is documentation including medical records, insurance policies and correspondence, proof of lost wages if you took time off from work to recover, and a police report if applicable.
The need for sufficient documentation makes it crucial to seek treatment immediately after an accident. Even if you don’t believe you have been injured, your injuries may simply be difficult to locate without a proper exam, and symptoms might develop at a later date, at which point the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim would have likely expired.
A medical examination can confirm what types of injuries you endured following an accident and may provide you with records that can help support your claim when seeking compensation. Keep in mind that compensation could also cover all medical expenses associated with the injury, including ongoing treatment.
If you are involved in an accident, seek medical attention within 24 hours of the accident, which could make it easier to prove that the injury was a direct result of the accident.
If you don’t obtain copies of medical records and other documentation, a personal injury attorney may be able to help acquire them for you.
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