We face certain risks in our daily lives, but when a risk turns into an accident resulting in a significant injury, there may be grounds for legal action. This is the time for the victim to turn to the services of a civil personal injury attorney.
A personal injury resulting from the negligent actions of someone else is considered a tort. Handled in the civil court system, such cases are designed to provide accident injury compensation to the victims. The most common of all torts stem from traffic accidents causing injury or death. Many personal injury cases involve slip-and-fall accidents. Some of these accidents are serious enough to require the services of a brain injury attorney.
Medical malpractice is a factor in many personal injury cases and result from errors in hospitals and clinics. Product liability cases are related to consumer items that may have design or construction flaws. Workplace accidents resulting from faulty equipment or practices may also require bodily injury compensation.
No matter the type of accident or nature of the injury, the victims will need financial assistance. An attorney is the person to contact when seeking compensation for accident injuries.
The key to successful personal injury lawsuits is providing enough valuable evidence of the accident and being able to prove liability. Though many personal injury cases never even make it to the courtroom — between 95% and 96% of personal injury lawsuits are settled out of court — it’s still important to protect your case and increase your chances of getting appropriately compensated. Here are a few tips for gathering the right evidence to help your case.
1. Go Back to the Scene
The time right after an accident is the most stressful, but it’s also the most crucial for gathering evidence. Your first priority should always be to seek out medical treatment, but you should return to the scene of the accident as soon as you can. You’ll want to make sure that the scene is as close to the conditions of the accident as possible, so the sooner you get there, the better.
2. Take Quality Photographs
When you get back to the scene, one of the most important things you’re going to need to do is take pictures, but this doesn’t mean you should just snap a few with whatever device you have on hand and leave. Make sure that whatever device you’re using takes good quality photos and that you take a few pictures from different angles to make sure that you get clear pictures that accurately represent the scene.
3. Document Your Injuries
Aside from the scene of the accident, you also need to document your injuries. This means being thorough and honest during your medical evaluation after the accident and photographing your injuries as soon as you can after the accident. You should also make sure to request copies of your medical records before meeting with your lawyer or negotiating with the liable party.
Do you have any questions about or tips for preserving evidence to help your personal injury claim? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below. Learn more.