If you have been injured in an accident that was not your fault, there are things you can do to help your case should you decide to file a personal injury claim.
Revisit the scene
If your safety is not compromised, it may help your case to revisit the place where the accident occurred and take photographs. Pay special attention to details such as traffic lights, tire marks, broken or scratched property—anything that demonstrates an accident occurred. In a traffic accident, photos of blind spots or faulty traffic lights could significantly help your case. To take useful photographs, get shots from multiple angles and write down the date and time the photos were taken as well as a short description of what the photos aim to show.
Preserve physical evidence
Any items that are related to the accident should be preserved so that they can be presented later as evidence. Examples of evidence include dents in a bumper, dirty clothes, other damaged personal belongings, and photos of obstructions on the road. Well-preserved evidence from the scene of an accident may significantly help your case and could result in you receiving a settlement for your injury.
Witnesses may help your case
Having a witness can significantly improve your chances of receiving a settlement or winning your case. A person who observed your accident may be able to verify that you were not at fault. It is also possible that you are not fully aware of the events of your accident and speaking with a witness can bring other details to light that you had not realized or had forgotten.
The chances of a good outcome can be greatly increased if a witness corroborates your story and indicates that you were not at fault. If you can think of people who witnessed your accident, you should write their names down and try to talk with them.
Document injuries
If you were injured and saw a medical professional, preserve all of your medical records related to the accident. Even if you did not visit a medical professional, photos of cuts, swelling, bruises, or other signs of injury could be helpful to your case. It is important to keep in mind that injuries heal, so if you are considering filing a lawsuit or claim, document your injuries so that your compensation reflects the level of inconvenience or pain that you experienced. An insurance company may not believe that your injuries were serious, but with ample evidence, it will be harder for them to refute the claim.
Seek legal counsel
These tips are meant to help you improve your case, but it will be most beneficial for you to speak with an attorney as soon as possible as there are many other actions that could be helpful to your case.
Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria, located in Buffalo, is well versed in all areas of personal injury law. Our highly acclaimed attorneys are available 24/7 to provide legal counsel and answer questions. Lipsitz Green is “Top Listed in Buffalo, NY” by Best Lawyers in America for Plaintiff’s Personal Injury.
This article does not purport to give legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
