Going through a personal injury case entails knowing what to do to come out victorious, especially if you’re the plaintiff. The main aim of taking your case to court is to increase the chances of winning and receiving your rightful compensation.
However, you can only achieve that if you’ve undeniable evidence to present before the jury. That’s why learning about the most critical evidence types is necessary to build and establish your PI case. This is the information you’ll gather from this piece.
1. Police Files and Records
You might have noticed that many advisors will tell you to contact the police first whenever you’re in an accident. Generally, you can’t use police reports and files as evidence in court, but they still play a pivotal role in how the jury and judges perceive the occurrence, as you can confirm from LevinInjuryFirm.com. Additionally, insurance companies handle these documents as the primary narration of what happened when evaluating a personal injury claim.
Police reports act as evidence containing material, such as photos, that the court can accept as proof. This is the main reason to invite the police to an accident scene and ensure they document their findings. Moreover, it’s advisable to grab a copy of the report as soon as the police avail it.
2. Medical Reports and Bills
Some personal injury occurrences, such as workplace accidents, medical malpractice, and road accidents, lead to severe injuries. Some of these injuries require immediate and costly medical attention from a recognizable health facility. Unfortunately, many victims assume their medical records are in order simply because they were served in a good hospital.
You must update your medical records because some health practitioners can side with insurance providers to manipulate your records and bills. It’s wise to file every record and bill you receive because that makes it easy to present them in court. The jury can rule the case against you if you can’t prove your injuries’ extent and the treatment cost.
3. Photographs and Videos
You might wonder why so many sources advise you to take photographs and record videos of an accident. That’s because these are evidence materials that can help you build a personal injury case and increase the chances of winning against the defendant. The human memory isn’t foolproof, meaning you can easily forget every detail of your encounter.
Vehicle dashcams, CCTV cameras, and other surveillance systems are pivotal in recording and storing the necessary information about different accidents. Take a road accident as an example. Your dashboard camera can reveal tire tracks showing that another motorist didn’t brake on time and collided with you.
4. Insurance Reports
Personal injury claims include negotiating with your insurance provider or the plaintiff’s insurance company. Thus, negotiation involves sending and receiving documents and files from these providers. Your personal injury attorney will educate you on the importance of preserving such documents.
Some claimants make the mistake of assuming they can retrieve these files and documents later, but that isn’t always the case. Moreover, although you can retrieve this data later, it’ll unnecessarily delay your case.
5. Witness Statements
Witnesses are critical in every PI case because they give an account of what they saw during the occurrence. Gathering witness statements increases the chances of winning your personal injury case. Nevertheless, you must understand that these fall under two categories. There’s a difference between eyewitnesses and expert witnesses.
The adequacy of your evidence is the primary determining factor of how your personal injury case proceeds and the outcome. Nonetheless, you might need more information regarding the most crucial evidence types to present in court. The five points discussed in this article expound on different evidence types and their significance in a personal injury case.
Conclusion
In conclusion, successfully proving a personal injury case in court requires a thorough and strategic approach. Gathering substantial evidence, such as medical records, witness testimonies, and expert opinions, is crucial to establish the defendant’s liability and the extent of the plaintiff’s damages.
Presenting this evidence effectively through clear and persuasive arguments can greatly increase the chances of winning the case. Additionally, it is important to adhere to the legal procedures and rules of evidence throughout the litigation process.
By following these steps and working closely with an experienced personal injury attorney, individuals can improve their chances of obtaining a fair settlement or favorable verdict. Remember, seeking professional legal advice is always recommended when dealing with complex personal injury cases.
