When you or a loved one suffers severe injury in a car accident, you’ll need to file a personal injury claim to recover damages. However, filing a claim is more than just filling out paperwork. You’ll need to provide evidence that the accident occurred due to the negligence of another party and also establish the cost of the damages you incurred.
5 Principal Types of Evidence to Provide in Your Car Accident Claim
Perhaps the most important type of proof necessary to your car accident claim is evidence of how the accident occurred. Photographs are often the best way to do this as they can show the following.
- Damage done to your vehicle
- Details of the scene of the crash
- Immediate evidence of the injuries you sustained
Another important type of proof for proving liability in a car accident claim is eyewitness contact info. If anyone was present during the crash and not in your or the other driver’s vehicle, they can be a valuable witness to testify on the events that lead up to the crash. The police may question these witnesses and include their contact in the police report, but it’s also a good idea to get this information for your records.
After you’ve gathered the evidence to prove the other party was liable for causing the car accident, you need to determine the extent of your damages. For your injuries, you’ll need medical records that show the injuries you sustained were due to the crash. Then you’ll need your current medical bills. It’s also helpful to get a doctor’s prognosis for your recovery and estimates for any future medical care or procedures and their costs.
Along with your injury damages, your personal property such as your vehicle, motorcycle, or bicycle will likely need repair. The insurance company may send you to their repair shop to get an estimate, or they may require that you get a few estimates for the repairs. Handle the insurance adjuster like a pro: let your personal injury attorney talk to him or her on your behalf.
Finally, you want to collect evidence of the income you lost because of your injuries. You’ll need to track how much time you’ve already lost at work, plus get an estimate from your doctor of how long you’re expected to be unable to return to work. Along with this, you’ll need to prove your pre-injury income so your complete lost income can be calculated.
