The Importance of Keeping Accurate Records in a Personal Injury Case

A car accident or a slip-and-fall injury can turn your life upside down in an instant. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, you may have a strong personal injury claim. However, you would need to prove the fault of the other party to hold them liable for your injuries and losses. A profound and proven personal injury attorney can gather strong evidence and build a compelling legal strategy to prove the other party was at fault and help you receive maximum compensation.

Importance of Record Keeping in Personal Injury Claims 

Accurate records and facts are vital to proving any personal injury claim. These help in establishing liability by providing important evidence about the defendant’s actions. Your attorney will use these records to demonstrate that someone else’s negligence caused you serious injuries, wage loss, and pain and suffering.

Police reports, photos and videos, forensic evidence, accident reconstruction reports, pay stubs, and medical records can provide concrete proof regarding the accident, causation, and the resulting damages, expenses, and losses. These records can be used for establishing any lost income due because of time taken off work. This can be for hospitalization, doctor visits, or while waiting for recovery. Medical bills can be helpful in showing out-of-pocket expenses for medications and treatment too.

Keeping a detailed account of your pain and suffering and physical limitations is also helpful. Having a complete set of well-maintained accurate records is critical for anyone filing a personal injury claim. You should speak with an experienced attorney regarding the kind of records you should preserve.

Police Reports and Photographic Evidence Can Support Your Claim

Police reports are essential documents for personal injury claims. They can make or break your case since they state the facts of an incident. Police reports typically contain contact information and testimonials of eyewitnesses too. They may also contain an unbiased version of the event and fault assignment by the reporting officer.

For instance, in the case of a car accident, the law enforcement official may include the fact that the other driver was drunk and speeding. This may be enough to get you the compensation you deserve during settlement negotiations. Police reports are usually not permissible as evidence during a court trial. However, they can be used during the negotiation process.

Photos and videos can be helpful in establishing fault and proving damages too. If possible, you should use your phone to click as many pictures as you can at the scene of the accident. Depending on the type of accident, you may want to take pictures proving the fault of the person, your injuries, and any other damage. You may also want to take pictures of contributing factors. For instance, in a car accident, you may want to make a video showing the weather conditions when the accident took place.

Types of Useful Records in an Alabama Personal Injury Claim

There are 4 types of records you should maintain for a successful personal injury claim. This includes records for medical treatment, employment, income, and repairs. Medical records can prove the type of treatment you required, and the compensation needed to cover your medical expenses. You need to make sure you obtain employment records from your employer’s office.

They should reflect your position and job description. This will help if your injuries prevent you from working in the same capacity. Your attorney will negotiate for a higher settlement if you cannot hold the same type of job again. Income records can help prove the amount of lost wages. Insurance companies can be asked to compensate for both past and future lost wages.

Recent pay stubs and W2 forms can reflect your current lifestyle. Other income records to keep are investments, profit statements, and savings. Financial records are useful in calculating the extent of losses suffered. Repair bills and photographic evidence of property damage can be helpful in obtaining fair compensation.

You may also want to maintain a daily log of events or a journal. You should jot down the facts related to the accident and your medical recovery. Don’t forget to mention the various ways in which your injuries prevent you from doing the things you used to enjoy earlier.

Organize Your Records for a Successful Claim

After gathering your documentation, you need to make sure you keep it safe and organized in chronological and logical order. This will make it easier for your personal injury attorney to access necessary information. These are a few benefits of organizing all records:

• Accurate timeline: Having your records organized will help you maintain an accurate timeline and keep a chronological order of the records.
• Accurate calculation of your losses: Following an accident, you will need to maintain bills for medical appointments, transportation costs, repairs, and others. Keeping things organized will help your attorney arrive at an accurate and fair compensation amount.
• Medical documentation: The largest component of economic compensation is medical expenses. You need to maintain your medical records in such a manner that your lawyers can gain easy access to them.

Talk to a Skilled and Knowledgeable Personal Injury Attorney – Book Your Free Consultation Today

If you have been injured in an accident, you should get seek legal advice and strong representation from the dedicated personal injury attorneys at the law offices of Frank M. Wilson. Our attorneys can help you understand your rights and organize important records for a successful personal injury claim. To schedule your free consultation, call us at (334) 420-2931 or fill out this online contact form.