Personal Injury

Once you have had an accident and you are faced with the pain of an injury, gathering evidence about the event may be the last thing on your mind. However, to make a personal injury claim, gathering evidence can be the difference between a large amount of compensation, and a small amount. Here is a list of evidence you can gather to make your case as strong as possible:

Record where the accident happened – Make a note of the location, date and time the injury took place. These details could otherwise become unclear with the passage of time.

Take photographs of your injuries – You should take photographs of your injuries including any bruising, abrasions, lacerations or contusions to your body. You should also take photos of your clothes if they were torn or bloodied.

Take photographs of the incident scene – Pictures of the incident scene are also vital. They must show the cause of the accident if at all possible. So if you tripped on a dislodged paving stone, this should be shown in a picture as evidence. Include defect measurements and pictures of the surrounding scene where applicable.

If the accident occurred at a commercial property such as a shop or workplace – You should report the incident in an accident book. If the property owner does not have an accident book, you should send details to them about the accident via email.

Take the names and addresses of witnesses if at all possible – Witness statements can be invaluable in personal injury cases.

If it was a road accident – Make a note of the insurance details of any other driver who was involved.

Police reports can also be invaluable – If your accident is serious enough for police to attend the scene, record the name of the reporting officer and the police instant reference or ‘CAD’ number. You may need to contact them in the future.