What Documents Do I Need in a Personal Injury Case?

Even if it seems obvious looking back who was responsible for causing an accident that led to you getting hurt, any personal injury claim you want to pursue will only be as strong as the evidence you incorporate into it. No matter how serious your injuries are, you will need extensive documentation to recover fair compensation for your losses.

The question of what documents you need in a personal injury case can have slightly different answers from person to person, as well as for claims arising from various forms of negligence. With this in mind, here is a basic overview of what you should have on hand if you want a fair shot at getting a favorable case result.

Comprehensive Medical Records

To obtain civil restitution for a personal injury, you will first need to establish what type of injuries you sustained and how severe they are. You will also need to provide documentation of what treatment you have received and will need to receive in the future to reach maximum medical improvement.

Virtually every file and report that any medical professional generated while examining, diagnosing, or treating you for a personal injury should be incorporated in some way into your lawsuit or settlement demand. This might include records from before your accident to establish how the incident changed your overall physical condition for the worse.

Bills and Receipts for All Monetary Losses

Once you have established that you suffered injuries in an accident, you will need to provide objective evidence of how much those injuries—plus other accident-related losses—have cost you financially. You should be prepared to produce statements for medical care, car repair, rental car fees, in-home assistance, prescription medications, and even old pay stubs and tax returns to illustrate an accident’s effect on your finances.

Insurance

While it may not apply to every case, anyone with insurance coverage that may provide them compensation after an accident should have their policy documents ready for a personal injury attorney to review. Taking advantage of available coverage may be vital to maximizing recovery, especially if the person most directly to blame for an incident does not have insurance or a lot of personal assets to pay for your damages.

Reports from Law Enforcement and Other Sources

Authoritative documents on how an accident occurred can be vital to forming a solid personal injury case. For example, a police report filed after an auto accident might show that one person involved committed a traffic violation that directly led to the wreck. In the context of medical malpractice, input from medical experts is imperative to establishing that another medical professional breached an applicable standard of care.

Personal Records and Statements

It can also be beneficial to take notes while recovering from a personal injury to establish the impact that physical pain and psychological suffering have had on you. Similar reports from family members and friends can be helpful in this regard as well.

Reach Out if You Need Help Gathering the Proper Documentation for a Personal Injury Case

One of our trusted attorneys could discuss what documents you might need in a personal injury case in more detail during a private consultation. Schedule yours by calling today.