When it comes to making a personal injury compensation claim, you will be required to provide documentation and evidence of your accident in order to stand a chance of it being successful. The documents required will vary depending on the circumstances of your case; however you will most definitely need to provide sufficient evidence to prove that another party is liable for your injury. Below we have outlined some of the different types of evidence you may be required to provide.
Photographic Evidence
Photographic evidence will prove to be very useful when it comes to claiming compensation for your personal injury. It is highly recommended that you take photos (or get someone to take them for you) of the location of your accident. If you have tripped or slipped over, make sure you get photographs of the hazard that caused you to injure yourself.
As well as photographic evidence of the location of your accident, it is also recommended that you take photographs of your injuries. This will help to prove the severity of your injury, even if it has started to heal since making your personal injury claim.
Reports from the Scene
The last thing you will probably think to do when injuring yourself is record information, however it is this information that can go a long way in helping you win your compensation claim. If you are with someone at the time of your accident, get them to note down as many details as possible as the scene.
If the police attend the scene of your accident, make sure you or someone you are with notes down the officer’s details and the incident number. This will make it much easier for you to obtain the report they made at the time of your accident so you can use it to support your compensation claim.
Whilst the evidence stated above should be enough to proceed with your claim, if the opposing party does not admit liability, you may be required to provide further evidence. For example, if you were involved in a serious road traffic accident, you may be required to obtain a sketch of the position of the vehicles from the police.
In some cases you may also be required to obtain a medical report from your GP.
Documentation from Witnesses
Written statements from witnesses of your accident can help to support your personal injury claim. Make sure that you take the contact details of any witnesses of your accident.
Keep a Diary
A diary of the events leading up to your accident and occurring after your accident can also help to support your claim. Keeping a diary will also prevent you from forgetting any important details that you need to make your claim for compensation. Make sure you record how your injuries are making you feel, as well as any conversations you have with other parties such as the police, your GP, witnesses and insurance companies.
Make sure you give your personal injury lawyer copies of any written correspondence you receive in relation to your accident.
Keep a Record of your Expenses
Last but not least, we recommend keeping a written record of all the costs you have incurred as a result of your accident e.g. money for painkillers, prescription charges, medical treatments and loss of earnings due to having time off work. Ask for receipts and keep copies of your bank statements as proof of your expenses.
Conclusion
If you intend on making a personal injury compensation claim, we highly recommend working with an experienced personal injury lawyer. They will be able to provide you with more information about the evidence you need to support your claim. Remember the more evidence you have, the more likely you are to get the amount of compensation you deserve.