There are 39.5 million personal injury cases requiring medical treatment annually in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And with millions of these cases filed each year, evidence plays a crucial role in proving who was at fault and the extent of the damages suffered.
Filing a personal injury claim should be a straightforward process. You just fill out a form and submit it to the proper agency, making sure you acquire all the needed documents that can support your claim. The challenge, however, is to find what type of evidence can strengthen a personal injury case.
Let’s find out the types of evidence you need to increase the likelihood of success in your claim.
Eyewitness Testimonies
Witness testimonies are often key factors in injury cases. Their accounts provide direct proof of what happened in support of your version of the events. Anyone who has seen some event can testify, believing that their eyewitness account shall be a credible one supporting the claims of the judge and jury.
It is best to try and get information from these witnesses at the earliest since sometimes their memories tend to fade or their biases change. Use open-ended questions encouraging detailed answers during interviews.
Obtain contact information in case the lawyer may need to pursue further inquiry. Eyewitnesses tend to link the plaintiff’s experience with the facts of the case and unite around their fight for justice.
Medical Records and Bills
Medical records and bills are very crucial in strengthening your injury case. They are evidence of your injuries and evidence of your treatments arrayed by the system that will work against proving the implications on your life.
When you accumulate the records of the medical history, you should keep other relevant documents, such as diagnoses, treatment plans, and prescriptions. The records give credence to your claims and indicate how much pain you have accumulated.
Bills show the financial burden you may be going through, so the amount of compensation you deserve for getting it all together becomes very clear. So these documents work together to give an impressive story that links your injuries to the accident.
Never underestimate organizing your medical records, for it will empower you in working with your case, building confidence, and seeking justice.
Photographic Evidence
Photographic evidence helps significantly in supporting your personal injury lawsuit. When pictures show the accident site, injuries, or property damage, they weave a visual story to back their claims.
The photos help pictorially depict the extent of injuries and what transpired around the incident in terms of settlement or cancellation by a jury or an insurance adjuster.
Take pictures from different angles. Include in the documentation the road signs and even the weather, if possible. With more visual clues you provide, the stronger your case will be.
Besides, sharing these pictures with your lawyer can provide direction for their strategy. By offering clean and convincing photographic evidence, you are not just telling the story; inducing them to visualize it reinforces the emotional attachment along which the case will be decided.
Expert Opinions
Expert opinions add power to a personal injury case, even if you have compelling evidence from the accident itself. Experts include medical experts, accident reconstruction experts, and life care planners.
They can provide helpful advice regarding complicated matters. Expert testimonies add weight to your claim. Their words help the trial judge in comprehending the extent of injuries or how those injuries are going to affect the victim’s life in the future.
Being trusted in their respective fields, the crime case becomes stronger when expert opinions are presented. In fact, it gives the indication that they are not relying solely on the victim’s word. It affirms a dedication to justice and supports informed viewpoints.
This certainly establishes trust and credence in the eyes of the judges and juries, which, in turn, will augment an assault case.
Accident Reports and Police Statements
Evidence collection stands foremost in prosecuting any personal injury case later, with the reports of the accident and the declarations of the police serving that function. When it comes to pursuing liability, the owner must at least have knowledge about the safety hazard that caused the injury, says premises liability lawyer William T. Corbett, Jr.
In the event of an accident, these documents give an official account of what happened, thereby cementing your claims. The police statements might detail things or obtain witness accounts, thereby helping you build a strong case. Such evidence is useful in pinpointing negligence and backing arguments when faced with insurance companies or the courts.
Always get copies of these reports; they are not just paperwork but pieces to your story that could help you seek the justice rightfully due to you.