Documents You Should Keep For Your Claim

More documentation is always better than less when it comes to pursuing an injury claim after an accident. Be sure to collect and store all documentation about the accident, your injuries, and the financial losses you have suffered as a result of the crash. The more documentation you have, the stronger your injury claim may be.

Here is a list of the most critical documents to keep to support your claim:

• Accident report – In addition to the preliminary accident report that you are given at the scene of the crash, there is a more detailed report which the officer will submit and will be available to you. This report provides an objective, third-party account of the accident, though the police do not have final say when it comes to fault in a civil lawsuit.
• Medical records – Gather all medical documentation related to your accident, including from the ambulance, emergency room, follow-up appointments, second opinions, specialists, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and any other treatment. You will also need to save all medical billing statements.
• Wage and missed work documentation – Your W2 tax forms and paystubs will help you prove how much money you lost as a result of missing work for your recovery. You may also request a statement from your employer about missed days of work. If you are self-employed or don’t make a steady income every week, you may need to use receipts, scheduling records, or month-to-month income statements to demonstrate your loss.
• Bills and invoices – In addition to all medical billing records, you should hold on to invoices and receipts from the towing company, car repairs, car rental company, and any other receipts from expenses related to the accident.
• Videos and photos – Depending on where the accident took place, there may have been photos or videos taken before, during, and after the crash. Additionally, if you took any pictures after the accident (and you should to the extent you are able), you will want to save those as well.
• Diary about how injuries affect daily life – In addition to official doctor’s notes and medical reports, you should keep a diary detailing how your injuries have changed your life on a day-to-day basis. More detail is always better, and you should discuss your pain, how difficult it is to do things that were once easy, and any other relevant information.
• Mileage records for travel to appointments – Note how far you or your relatives are forced to travel to get you to your medical appointments.
• Insurance information – You will need to obtain insurance information from the other parties involved in the accident and provide your insurance card. You will also want to hold on to records of any communication between you and any insurance company.

Have additional questions? Contact Stewart Law Offices today by calling (803) 408-7352 for a free and confidential consultation.