You got hurt in an accident that wasn’t your fault. You’re thinking of filing a personal injury claim to get compensation for your injuries and other losses. But you’re not sure what evidence you need to prove your case.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the key evidence you should gather to boost your chances of winning your claim and how a San Francisco personal injury lawyer can help you throughout this process.
Gathering Evidence to Support Your Personal Injury Claim
To have a strong personal injury claim, you’ll need to gather as much evidence as possible to support it. While gathering evidence when you’re injured can be difficult, doing so will significantly help your claim. The more evidence you have to support the details of your accident and the severity of your injuries, the stronger your case will be.
Don’t delay—start collecting evidence as soon as possible after the accident. Memories fade over time, and physical evidence deteriorates, so the sooner you get witness statements, photos, and medical records, the better.
Police Reports and Accident Documentation
The police report from the accident is one of the most important pieces of evidence for your injury claim. It provides official documentation of the details surrounding your accident. You should get a copy of the police report as soon as possible after the accident occurs.
Photographic Evidence of Injuries and Property Damage
Taking photos of any injuries or property damage related to your accident is one of the most important things you can do to support a personal injury claim. Pictures provide objective evidence of what happened.
As soon as possible after the accident, have someone take photos of any visible injuries you sustained. Take close-ups as well as full-body shots from multiple angles. Capture the severity and extent of harm done.
Medical Records and Bills to Prove Extent of Injuries
Your medical records and bills will serve as critical evidence for the severity of your injuries. Obtain complete records of your emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, doctor appointments, physical therapy, and any other medical care you received. These will detail your injuries, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Eyewitness Statements and Testimony
Eyewitness testimony can be extremely compelling in a personal injury claim. After an accident, try to get statements from anyone who witnessed what happened. Their accounts of the events can help establish liability and provide evidence to support your version of what occurred.
Expert Opinions to Prove Liability and Causation
Expert testimony can be crucial for proving liability and causation when filing a personal injury claim. Expert witnesses, like doctors, engineers or accident reconstruction specialists, can provide opinions based on their experience and expertise.
Medical Experts
Medical experts like physicians or physical therapists are often required to prove the severity of your injuries. They can diagnose your conditions, determine impairment ratings, and provide prognosis for recovery.
Accident Experts
Accident reconstruction experts investigate the circumstances of an accident to determine how and why it occurred. They can prove liability by showing how the other party’s negligence or wrongdoing directly caused your injuries.
Vocational Experts
If your injuries prevent you from doing your job, a vocational expert can evaluate your skills and experience to determine how your earning capacity has been affected. They can calculate potential lost wages, both past and future, to build a compensation case.
Employment Records for Loss of Income Claims
Documentation of your employment history, salary and work schedule can be crucial for proving loss of income claims as part of your personal injury case. Obtain copies of:
- Pay stubs: These show your salary, hours worked and deductions. Having several recent pay stubs can establish your income before the accident.
- Tax returns: Tax returns listing your W-2 income prove how much you earned from work in past years.
- Employment contracts: If you have an employment contract, it can specify your salary, benefits and job duties, proving what you would have earned if not for the injuries.
- Leave records: Any records of sick leave, vacation time or disability leave you took after the accident can help demonstrate the impact on your ability to work.
Your San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You Compile Evidence
To build a strong personal injury case, gathering all relevant evidence as soon as possible is important while the details are still fresh. The demanding process of compiling medical records, photos, witness statements and other documentation can be stressful.
At San Francisco Injury Lawyers, our experienced attorneys understand how difficult this process can be. We are here to guide you every step of the way and ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 415-843-7099 to schedule a free consultation.