Are you planning to sue someone for your injuries? Then, you should be armed with evidence to back up your claim. It is best to collect evidence within the first few hours or days before people interfere with the accident scene. This enables you to obtain first-hand information, which profoundly strengthens your case.
But don't overlook the need to engage a personal injury attorney during the evidence collection stage. Their valuable advice will enable you to gather and preserve evidence as per the law. Take a look at how to go about evidence collection:
Don't Leave the Scene If Possible
Remaining at the scene of an accident is fundamental as it enables you to safeguard vital pieces of evidence before other people tamper with them. Move around the area, collecting viable information and taking pictures of the area's conditions. These details will enable your lawyer to identify the causative factors.
For example, you ought to capture a worn or torn spot around the floor area where you encountered a slip and fall. If you are a victim of ill-maintained machinery, take pictures of the machines from various angles to demonstrate the risks involved.
Get Several People Who Saw What Happened
Besides photographs, you should find witnesses who saw the incident happening. Interview them through the help of your lawyer and record their account for later use. Sometimes, a person standing at a distance from the scene can better view the events than the victim.
In addition, you may want to interview anyone who saw your condition right after the accident, even though they weren't present at the scene. That includes paramedics and nurses who offered you first aid. You have to contact witnesses quickly before they forget what happened or relocate to another area.
Keep a Record of Your Injuries
Records of your injuries form part of the evidence your lawyer will present in court. The records should include pictures of cuts, bruises, and swelling on your body. They will demonstrate to the insurance company or court the pain and suffering you underwent from the incident. Remember that even a deep cut will eventually heal, and may not look serious after a while. Therefore, you should take pictures of the wounds or fractures while still fresh.
Evidence plays a significant role in determining the success of your claim. That is why you need to take the measures above to ensure that you get the most critical information that will boost your claim. Engage a personal injury lawyer from a firm like Eisdorfer, Eisdorfer & Eisdorfer as early as possible to guide you through this vital stage.
