The moments immediately after a car accident can be very confusing. However, if you later decide to file a car accident claim, you will need to be able to prove two things to have a chance of recovering compensation: First, you suffered damages. Second, the other driver was at fault.
There are certain types of records you will need in order to have a chance of proving these two things.
If you were injured in an auto accident, it is important to contact an experienced Ft Worth car accident lawyer from Anderson & Cummings. Our team can assess the circumstances of your claim and help you pursue any compensation you are owed.
Accident Records
There are many records that your lawyer may recommend that you keep after an accident. The following documents may be critical to your claim:
- Police report – The accident report by the police will contain valuable information in it. A law enforcement officer may indicate his or her opinion about how the accident occurred. It may also indicate if the other driver received a ticket. It will record contact information for the parties and may also identify witnesses who saw the accident. It may include statements from these witnesses. It will also document important information about the accident, such as the date and location of the crash, weather conditions, etc.
- Repair records – Keep records related to the damage to your vehicle. You may also need records that indicate the value of the vehicle before the accident.
- Pictures – Take pictures of the vehicle damage and accident scene, if you can. Also, take pictures of your injuries and how they progress.
- Car accident journal – Your personal injury lawyer may recommend that you write down in your own words how the accident happened while your memory is fresh. He or she may also recommend that you keep a pain journal in which you describe your pain and other symptoms related to your injuries. This can help an insurance adjuster or jury get a better sense of what you went through after the accident.
Medical Records
Your medical expenses may make up a significant portion of your demand for compensation. Medical bills may pile up while you wait for your accident claim to be resolved. Keep records of the following medical information:
- Emergency medical service records, such as ambulance or paramedic expenses
- Emergency room treatment records
- Diagnostic records related to your injuries
- Lab reports, test results, MRI scans, X-rays and other pictures or visual depictions of your injuries
- Medical reports prepared by your physician and notes from medical consultations
- Treatment history
- List of prescribed medications
- Admission documents to the hospital or doctor’s office
- Physical therapy records
- Chiropractor care records
- Documents from specialists to whom you were referred
- All of your medical bills and receipts
You may want to keep a detailed summary of your medical records as you receive them, since they are often quite exhaustive.
Employment Records
If your injuries caused you to miss work, you should also gather employment records. You may be entitled to compensation for the amount of income you lost because of the accident. You will want documents that show how much you are ordinarily paid and the approximate value of the wages you lost while you were receiving treatment or recovering from your injuries.
Employment records to keep include:
- Check stubs
- Direct deposit records
- Tax returns
- Tip records
- A letter from your employer regarding how much income you lost because of the accident
- Correspondence with your employer regarding your absence from work
Contact a Lawyer for Help
If you were injured in a car accident, the personal injury attorneys in Ft. Worth TX at Anderson & Cummings can help you identify and gather important documents related to your claim. We can use this information to help establish the negligence of the other driver and to show the full extent of your injuries and damages in order to pursue fair and just compensation for you.
For a free consultation, contact our office. We can discuss your legal options and how we can assist you with your claim. You are charged no upfront fees and we only get paid for our services if we help you secure compensation for your claim.
Schedule a free consultation today by calling (817) 920-9000 or fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.