When you are injured due to another person’s negligence, you can file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for your losses. Around 39 million people sustain an injury each year, which is why the market is worth $53.1 billion.
However, you need solid evidence to prove your claim and show that the other party was at fault. According to Ryan Zavodnick, a trusted Philadelphia personal injury attorney, some key types of evidence commonly used in personal injury cases include:
Police Reports
If the incident that caused your injury involved the police, such as a car accident (there were 5.9 million car accidents reported to the police in 2022), the police report can serve as important evidence. Police reports contain key details about what happened, witness statements, and determinations of fault. The report can support your version of events and help prove negligence. Having an official report filed at the scene can lend credibility to your claim.
Photographic Evidence of Your Injury
Photos of the scene, damaged property, and your injuries can visually demonstrate what happened. If your injury is visible, photographs can prove its extent and severity. Photos should be taken as soon as possible after the incident from multiple angles. Pictures can provide persuasive evidence that is easy for insurance adjusters and juries to understand.
Video Footage of The Accident
Surveillance camera footage or cell phone videos often capture incidents as they occur. If available, video evidence gives an unbiased view of how the incident happened and who was at fault. Even if the video does not fully prove liability, it can corroborate your events. The footage should be preserved and authenticated for submission as evidence.
Medical Records of Your Injuries
Your medical records substantiate your injuries and treatment needs. Bills, records, test results, and doctor reports help quantify your economic damages such as medical expenses, lost income from missed work, therapy costs, and ongoing care – a visit to the ER can cost as much as $3,300, and a hospital stay may be as much as $57,000. Records from emergency treatment right after the incident may document your immediate injuries. Your primary doctor can provide opinions linking your diagnosed conditions to the incident.
Expert Witness Testimony
Doctors, accident reconstructionists, vocational experts, and other specialists can provide opinions based on their expertise. A doctor can use your medical history to explain how the defendant’s actions directly caused your injury and the necessity of treatment. Experts can interpret evidence in your favor and strengthen arguments about liability and damages. Their impartial testimony lends credibility.
Written Eyewitness Statements
Eyewitness statements from those present during the incident provide critical firsthand accounts of what transpired. If possible, obtain written and signed statements from witnesses as soon as you can. Their on-the-scene perspectives can corroborate your allegations. Written statements carry more weight than witnesses just verbally recounting the event later on.
Physical Evidence
Any physical objects that show damage or defects in the incident can prove important. Chrysler recalls impacted 2.6 million vehicles, some of which were probably involved in accidents. And in 2021, the NHTSA issued 1,000+ safety recalls, which affected 35+ million vehicles.
Defective auto parts, torn clothing, broken glasses, dented metal – anything that illustrates the force of impact is important evidence. Preserve relevant physical evidence carefully. Let your attorney, submit them properly as exhibits. Damaged items have stronger evidentiary value than solely relying on witness descriptions.
Using as much convincing evidence as you can gather can effectively prove liability and strengthen your personal injury claim. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you determine what evidence is needed and ensure it is collected and presented properly to demand full and fair compensation.