Have you been harmed in an accident caused by someone else? The negligence of others can often cause serious accidents that leave people with life-changing injuries. That is why the law provides a way for injury victims to recover some of which they have lost. With a personal injury claim, you can seek compensation for the harm you have sustained in an accident caused by someone else. Usually, this is accomplished through filing and pursuing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. The insurance company, however, will not just pay out on your word. There are substantial amounts of evidence that will be required to convince an insurance company of the validity and extent of your claim.
What Type of Evidence May Be Relevant in a Car Accident Injury Claim?
In order to substantiate a personal injury claim, you will need to prove that the at-fault party was actually at-fault in causing the accident. To establish this point, you may be able to present evidence in the form of:
- Photographs at the accident scene
- Security camera footage
- Witness testimony
- Accident reports
- Citations issued
- Accident reconstruction expert testimony
It can be important to start gathering such evidence while at the scene of the accident. If you are able to, take pictures. Get the contact information for any witnesses to the accident. Call 911 to make sure that police arrive on the scene and an official accident report is generated. Police may also issue citations to the at-fault driver that can act as proof that the person violated traffic regulations, indicating liability for causing the accident.
You will also need to prove that you were injured as a result of the accident. Evidence of your injuries can include:
- Medical records
- Lab reports
- Testimony from your treating physicians
- Testimony from other expert witnesses
- Testimony from friends and family regarding how you have changed and how your life has changed since the accident
Furthermore, you will want to produce substantial evidence to support your claim for damages. The bulk of a damage award in a personal injury claim includes compensatory damages. Compensatory damages are meant to try and compensate a victim for losses sustained as the result of an accident. As such, you will want to produce evidence such as:
- Medical bills
- Projected cost of future medical care
- Paystubs to substantiate a claim for lost wages and loss of future earning capacity
- Property damage estimates
You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering. To support an award for pain and suffering damages, you may want to produce evidence in the form of records reflecting your attendance at counseling or therapy, testimony from your therapist and other mental health experts, and testimony from friends and family about how you may have struggled after an accident.
Personal Injury Attorneys
At SoCal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to asserting the strongest case possible for our clients to help ensure they get the monetary compensation they deserve. Contact us today.