Documentation To Show Your Personal Injury Attorney in Florida

If you have been in an accident and sustained injuries, you should know that you can issue a claim to recover compensation for your damages. Filing the claim is an easy task, but proving a claim is where you’ll face significant hurdles.

Understanding what documents you must preserve when proving a claim is critical. Gathering these significant pieces of evidence at the early stage of your claim can help you and your lawyer avoid facing obstacles.

Here are six viable pieces of evidence you must keep when proving a claim in a personal injury case in Florida.

Medical Records

Your medical reports are one of the most critical pieces of evidence you need to have when pursuing a personal injury claim. Your medical records will prove that you underwent treatment for your injuries.

These records must indicate the date when you received treatment, the name and address of the healthcare provider, and the type of treatment you received.

Your medical records should also show how much money you spent on your treatment. Keep all receipts, bills, and transaction papers related to your medical expenses. Make sure that these documents are dated and show the healthcare provider’s name who rendered the services.

Here are some medical records you can use as a proof of your bodily damage:

• Diagnostic results
• Doctor’s notes and recommendations
• Radiography results
• Prescription notes

This list is not exhaustive. A good rule of thumb is to preserve any medical documents related to the accident.

Police Reports

Another significant piece of evidence you need to have when filing a personal injury claim is the police report. The record will show how the accident happened and who was at fault. It will also indicate the names and contact details of the parties involved in the accident and witnesses.

Because of the importance of this report, it’s vital to contact the police department to respond to your accident immediately. This official document is also critical when claiming insurance support.

Although this is an official and legal document, it’s not hard to get your hands on these papers. Your lawyer can issue a request to obtain a copy of the report and state the purpose of acquiring the copy.

Witness Contact Information

Witnesses are crucial when building a compelling personal injury case. These people can provide helpful insights and first-hand information about how the accident transpired and who’s at fault.

You don’t need to demand testimonials from the witnesses right away. You only need to obtain their contact information. This evidence is helpful when you and your attorney are working on building your personal injury claim.

Keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations when filing a personal injury claim in Florida. This law requires plaintiffs to file their claim within four years from the date of the accident.

If you want to obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries, you and your attorney need to start working on your case immediately.

Defendant’s Insurance Information

Obtaining the insurance policy information of the at-fault party is critical in determining the amount of compensation you can receive for your damages.

Certain states — including Florida — require their drivers to possess personal injury protection (PIP) policy for this specific purpose. Florida’s vehicle law requires each motorist to have a minimum of $10,000 PIP before obtaining their driver’s license.

This amount may be insufficient to cover all your losses if you suffer severe injuries in an accident. Your party can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver to recover additional compensation if this is the case.

You or your attorney can receive a copy of the defendant’s insurance policy by requesting it from the public records. This document will show the at-fault driver’s insurance company and contact information.

Lost Wages Documentation

Lost wages and loss of potential earnings are part of the economic damages. If you missed work because of your injuries, you could ask your employer to provide a document that indicates the days you were absent and the wages you lost.

Lost wages refer to the income that a person loses because they cannot work due to their injuries. This damage includes the wages that the victim lost while recovering from the catastrophic injuries they sustained from the accident.

In contrast, loss of potential income refers to the future earnings that a person will no longer be able to enjoy due to their debilitating injuries.

This recoverable damage includes the wages that the victim would have earned while the person was working and any potential future earnings that have been lost.

Photographic Proof or Video Footages

If you have access to any photographic evidence or video footage of the accident, you should provide these to your attorney. These pieces of evidence can help prove how the accident happened and appropriately determine liability.

There are different sources where you can get these photographs or videos. It can be from a nearby surveillance camera, a smartphone, or even a dashcam.

You can ask the owner of the private surveillance camera to recover a copy of the accident footage. However, if the local government owns the surveillance camera, your lawyer must issue the request.

Be sure to take plenty of pictures or videos from different angles to get enough evidence of the accident scene. If you have visible bodily injuries and property damages, don’t forget to document them as well.

Documentation Is Proof

These are only some of the essential pieces of evidence that you need to provide your personal injury attorney. It’s necessary to understand that documentation is vital when building a personal injury claim.

A case is only as strong as its evidence. Therefore, you must do your best to preserve as much evidence as possible to support your claim.

Avard Law Offices SWFL Personal Injury Attorneys

If you’ve been injured in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, or Sarasota, contact our Florida personal injury lawyer now. We will help you get the evidence you need to build a strong case and get you the compensation you deserve. Call (888) 685-7930 or email us.