If you've been injured in an accident, you have the right to receive full compensation for your injuries. However, to do so, you'll need to be able to provide appropriate proof about how much the accident cost you. The law doesn't want people to be charged for expenses that weren't their fault even if they caused an accident. Here's what you'll need to do to get enough evidence to prove your personal injury claim to a jury.
Getting On-Scene Proof
One of the most important steps to proving a personal injury claim is proving that injuries actually happened in the accident and not before or after it. Therefore, you want to get as much information as you can on the spot.
Even if you don't think you need an ambulance, call 911. This will create an official record of the incident occurring. Even if it wasn't a traffic accident and you aren't alleging that a crime occurred, ask a police officer to come take a report so you have more details.
If you are able, take photos of your injuries and the scene or ask someone else to do so. Don't forget to ask potential witnesses for their contact information.
Request Surveillance Videos
Send a certified letter to the owner of the property where you were injured requesting their surveillance tapes. If they send them, you'll have evidence of the accident.
If they don't send them, you can ask a judge to force them to provide the tapes to you once you've filed your lawsuit. If they say they didn't save the tapes, you'll be allowed to use that fact as evidence of their wrongdoing.
Getting Medical Records
Go to a doctor for a checkup either the same day or next morning -- whether or not you feel seriously hurt. Some injuries take time to show symptoms, but a doctor can detect them immediately.
If you wait to see a doctor, you'll have trouble proving that the injury was caused by the accident and didn't happen at some other time.
Getting Proof of Lost Income
If you're disabled, you're also entitled to your lost earning ability. To start with, you'll need certified copies of your current salary information from your employer. You'll also want someone in HR to be able to testify about your future potential for raises if you had been able to continue in the job.
To learn more about getting the evidence needed to make your personal injury claim, contact a local personal injury lawyer like those at Terrence Salerno Law Office.
