What Kind of Evidence Do I Need For My Personal Injury Case?
When you’ve been injured in an accident, the burden of proof is on you to show that the other party is at fault. The best way to do this is to have strong evidence backing up your claim. If you were injured in an accident and are trying to build a case, here are some of the most important pieces of evidence that can help you win.
Medical Records
One of the first things most personal injury lawyers will request is your medical records. These records can provide important evidence about the nature and extent of your injuries, as well as how those injuries have affected your life. Medical records can also help establish the cause of your injuries, which is an important factor in many personal injury cases. In some cases, your lawyer may hire a medical expert to review your records and provide an opinion about your injuries and their causes.
Eyewitness Accounts
Eyewitnesses can play a crucial role in personal injury claims. If there were other people who saw the accident or incident that caused your injuries, their testimony can be very valuable in supporting your claim. Eyewitness testimony can help establish liability (the other party’s responsibility for causing the accident) as well as damages (the harm you suffered as a result of the accident).
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence from the accident scene can also be very helpful in personal injury claims. This could include things like skid marks on the road, photos of the accident scene, damage to vehicles involved in the accident, or surveillance videos from nearby businesses. This type of evidence can help establish how the accident happened and who was at fault. A Charleston personal injury attorney can help you determine what type of physical evidence may be useful in your case.
Accident Reconstructionist Testimony
If you’re filing a personal injury claim, chances are the other side is going to try to argue that you were partially or completely at fault for the accident. An accident reconstructionist can help rebut this argument by providing expert testimony about what really happened. Accident reconstructionists use their training and experience to analyze the details of an accident and determine who was really at fault. Oftentimes, they will also consult with engineers and other experts to get their opinion on the accident.
Police Report
Police reports can provide helpful information about what happened immediately after an accident, including any citations that were issued. Police reports can also sometimes contain eyewitness statements from people who saw what happened. These statements can be very helpful in supporting your version of events.
How to Gather Evidence After an Accident
In order to prove your case and get the compensation you deserve, you will need to gather evidence effectively. Strong evidence is crucial in a personal injury claim. The following are some tips for gathering evidence:
Time is of the essence: The sooner you can collect evidence, the better. If possible, take pictures of the scene of the accident and get contact information from witnesses before they leave.
Go to the doctor: It is important to document your injuries with medical records. Be sure to keep all receipts and documentation related to your medical treatment.
Keep a journal: In addition to medical records, a journal documenting your injuries, pain, and treatment can also be used as evidence.
If you have been injured in an accident, it is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
