Why is it so important to document your injuries after a car accident?
Ask any seasoned attorney, and they’ll emphasize the significance of documenting injuries and damages post-accident – the team at Cohn & Swartzon is no exception. What might not be clear, however, is how to go about doing that. So with that in mind, here are four ways to document your injuries after a car accident to help you properly document your claim.
1) Photographs
Taking photos of your injuries, all vehicles involved, the scene any damage at the scene, and information for everyone involved is one of the most important ways to document your injuries after a car accident.
These photos become essential evidence in your claim, substantiating the sequence of events as you lived them. Their significance extends to establishing fault, negligence, and may help secure rightful compensation.
2) Law Enforcement Report
In addition to photographs, an incident report from the responding law enforcement officer will be an important component of documenting your injuries after a car accident. Often police refuse to come out to an accident if you do not state that there are injuries. Try to press them to come out to the scene anyway.
Firstly, sharing the police report with your insurance company will assist you and the insurance company should you opt to make a personal injury claim. Secondly, the police report will include a neutral third-party assessment of the incident, including basic facts like time, date, location, the parties involved and their contact information, and other data that will be important as the claim process proceeds.
The law enforcement report generally will also include the officer’s judgment as to who was at fault, which will be helpful as a reference point for your claim and a potential legal case.
3) Witness Testimonials
If passengers or bystanders at the scene witnessed your car accident, it will also be valuable to secure their contact information and a written or video statement after the accident – preferably as soon as possible while the memories are fresh.
These witness statements can provide important perspectives on your accident and further support your claim and, if necessary, litigation against the at-fault parties and their insurance carrier.
4) Medical Diagnosis
After the initial emergency is over, it’s important to get a thorough medical evaluation and diagnosis for any injuries following your car accident. Literally tell a medical professional everything that hurts you from your head to your toes. This early medical documentation is essential.
A medical evaluation is vital for several reasons. The first is practical – you don’t want to assume that everything is alright and go back to your normal life like nothing happened if something is wrong. Neck and back injuries, for example, can worsen over time if left untreated after an accident.
The second reason an evaluation and diagnosis is important relates to your claim. Obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries will require a doctor’s confirmation of those injuries, and your attorney will be able to prove both current and future medical costs with a diagnosis in hand.
Further, your attorney’s ability to prove non-economic damages or ‘pain and suffering’ will be strengthened by a medical diagnosis of your accident-caused injuries. If you seek therapy for the mental trauma you have lived with since your car accident, for example, those medical costs should be covered as part of your compensation.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Uses Accident Documentation
Gathering all of this information and investigating your car accident to support a claim or legal case can be a long and intensive process, especially if you are recovering from injuries and trauma.
Instead of trying to handle the burden yourself, the best course of action is to consult with experienced personal injury attorneys like Cohn & Swartzon, who can assess the merits of your case and help you understand what steps you need to take to secure the compensation you need to restore your normal life.
“Documentation of injuries and damages is crucial to the success of any personal injury case, which is why we spend so much time upfront investigating and verifying details before filing a claim or lawsuit. Presenting proof of what our clients have gone through is foundational to protecting their rights and securing the compensation they are entitled to.”
– Jason D. Cohn, Founding Principal, Cohn & Swartzon
Hiring a Lawyer After a Car Accident
If you’re worried about the expense of hiring a legal team to pursue your claim, Cohn & Swartzon takes cases on contingency, which means that our firm doesn’t receive payment until you receive a settlement. In simple terms, if you have been in a car accident, follow the steps above to document your injuries and call Cohn & Swartzon to secure your best chance at getting justice.
Click here to set up a free assessment and consultation with Cohn & Swartzon now!
