Car crash claims – What evidence do I need?

During and following stressful situations, the brain can do things that you would never have imagined possible. For example, people in war zones often speak of having tunnel vision as they flee to safety. This is literally the brain’s way of limiting peripheral vision so as to remove any distractions that could take focus away from finding and sticking to an escape route. Likewise, where the brain deems a situation to be too traumatic to process without risking an emotional overload that could reduce our ability to think and act, the brain may employ a survival technique known as dissociative amnesia, blocking out the event from memory and therefore removing the need to mentally process the situation.

In the case of car crashes, dissociative amnesia could mean that you are unable to recall events with clarity, which could affect your claim for personal injury compensation (see the personalinjury.com website for more information).

Today, we’re going to look at gathering evidence in support of your claim, because you may not always remember exact details.

 

Photograph the scene

Take photographs of the scene, including close up and wide angled shots of your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the accident. These photos will provide proof of certain things like the location of the accident, the position of the cars following the accident, and weather conditions (photographs of your injuries may also be used in your claim).

 

Keep all medical records

Keep a note of all medical appointments, including the date and location. Write down the names of any medical staff, and keep a log of your treatment. This could include things like copies of x-rays. Where necessary, ask for the medical records to be signed and dated by the attending physician (speak to a lawyer who can give information and direct this process to ensure that your medical evidence is as robust as possible).

 

Keep all receipts

Receipts form part of the personal injury claims process known as special damages (injuries and related costs come under general damages). Receipts for travel to and from medical appointments, receipts for additional childcare required as a result of your injury, and receipts for any cancelled reservations on which you lost a deposit (e.g. airline tickets or hotel bookings) can all go towards the special damages part of your claim. Finally, if you have suffered lost earnings as a result of your injury, ask your employer for a signed and dated letter that proves your income and shows how much money you have lost. Where you are able to supply as much evidence as possible in support of your claim, the likelihood of achieving the desired outcome is increased.

Stewart Thurlow

Stewart Thurlow

I once shared a lift with Meryl Streep & Julianne Moore. Oh, & Victoria Beckham smiled at me. UK Editor for ADDICTED.
Stewart Thurlow