The Important Role of Evidence in Proving your Personal Injury Claim

When you’re hurt in an accident—whether it’s a slip-and-fall accident on the premises of a business, a car accident, or an accident caused by a dangerous product—one of the most important things you can do is to document the circumstances of your injury, as well as to keep records of any expenses you incurred as a result of the injury. Evidence plays a critical role in supporting your claim for damages after you suffer a personal injury. Strong evidence will make defendants more likely to settle your claim for damages out of court and can support a larger award.

As the injured plaintiff, it’s important for you to know what forms of evidence you should preserve after an accident, as well as evidence that your attorney can help you produce. Learn more below about the ways that evidence supports California personal injury claims, and contact an experienced California injury accident lawyer if you’ve been hurt in a Southern California car, truck, motorcycle accident, workplace, dog bite, brain injury or someone involved in wrongful death.

What forms of evidence are critical in supporting a personal injury claim?

1. Documentation of the scene of the accident: Photos or video taken in the immediate aftermath of an accident can provide critical support for your damages claim. If you slipped and fell on a damaged set of stairs or puddle of liquid at a business, a photo of the slipping hazard can provide critical evidence of what caused your injuries. Photos of the position of the vehicles, marks left on the road, or damage to the cars involved can offer critical proof of who was at fault in a car crash.
2. Eyewitnesses: The testimony of those who witnessed your accident can provide another crucial piece of evidence to prove your right to damages. If possible, obtain the name and phone number of anyone who may have seen what happened at the time of your injury.
3. Records of any medical treatment you received: Plaintiffs must not only prove that the defendant was at fault, but also that they are entitled to the amount of money they claim to have lost as the result of their injuries. This requires them to keep any receipts from doctors’ visits, medical treatment, prescriptions, and their costs of travel to and from appointments to prove the amount they should receive as reimbursement.
4. Expert testimony: Expert witnesses can offer objective evidence on a variety of topics in support of a personal injury claim, such as the likelihood that a victim will recover fully from their injuries, the amount that they are likely to lose in wages over their lifetime due to their injuries, or a recreation of a crash that can prove the cause of an accident. Even when cases do not go to trial, seasoned personal injury lawyers can use written reports from expert witnesses to bolster a claim and make a favorable settlement more likely.

If you’ve been hurt in a Southern California personal injury accident, get a no-cost assessment of your claim for damages by contacting the knowledgeable and dedicated personal injury lawyers at Hanning & Sacchetto, LLP for a free consultation at (562) 698-6446, with offices in Whittier, Ontario, Arcadia, Pomona, Glendora, and Irvine.