Documents You Need to File a Personal Injury Claim

Seeking fair compensation is your legal right after you sustain personal injuries because of someone else's recklessness. But you must prove that you were not at fault and that the injuries caused income losses, bodily pain and suffering, and medical expenses. A lack of adequate evidence to prove how personal injuries negatively affected your life can cause a counterclaim from your insurer's adjuster.



So, ensure you have all the necessary documents before you file a personal injury claim. Discover the essential documents you could need for the success of your personal injury claim and recovery of fair compensation.

Injury Diary or Injury Claim Calendar

Many personal injury victims forget the bodily pain and suffering they endured after accidents once they recover. To keep track of your pain after an auto accident, create a separate injury claim calendar or diary. The diary should include the mobility limitations you faced, your therapy dates and medical appointments, and the events you missed.

Also, the diary should be clear on when you and the insurer's adjuster agreed to contact each other. Such information will strengthen your personal injury case and increase your chances for higher settlement value.

Eyewitness Statements

Immediately after you get in an auto accident, get the contact information and names of those at the scene. With the help of a personal injury attorney, call and ask them to record statements of what they saw.

Contact the witnesses as soon as possible to ensure they don't forget the accident scenes or change their story. Written statements from eyewitnesses will inform you and other experts, like police officers, about the occurrence of the accident.

Diagnosis and Treatment Bill Receipt

Your insurer will likely need proof of all bills or expenses you incurred on post-injury medical treatment. Document all bills for purchased medical equipment or devices, mental health services, caregiver wages, prescription medication, hospital or doctor treatment, etc.

Also, don't forget to include parking fees, out-of-pocket treatment expenses, and travel costs in your medical bill receipt. Higher medical bills attract more compensation, so ensure your claim file has all treatment expenses you incurred.

Photographs or Videos

Quality colored photos of the accident scene and your injuries should be in your claim file. Ensure you update your photos in every stage of your recovery. Also, don't edit any images or alter your injury photographs, as that could get your injury claim denied. The back of your injury photos should have the photographers' names, dates, and the photos' representation.

Surveillance camera footage of your accident scene can also provide reliable video evidence for your injuries.

Proof of Lost Income or Wages

Personal injuries can cause you to spend time out of work, making you lose some wages or earnings. A pay stub, a letter from your employer, and the previous year's tax returns are examples of wage loss documents you should have. Also, your claim file should have a doctor's letter clarifying why you couldn't work while injured.

Medical Records

Unlike medical bills, which contain post-injury treatment costs, medical records contain detailed information about one's injuries and treatment procedures. Examples of medical records you can request before you file a personal injury claim include the following:

• Your rehab progress or physiotherapy records
• Notes from doctors and nurses
• Medical narrative report
• Hospital charts

Such medical records will inform your attorney about the scope of your personal injuries. Also, the records will help establish your injury severity and any pre-existing injury you could have.

A personal injury attorney will help you gather and fill out all the necessary documents during your claim filing. Also, the attorney will handle your insurance company and the adjuster to increase your settlement value. Walsh & Associates, PC will fight for your fair compensation if you're a victim of an auto accident caused by another person's negligence.