If you’re thinking about taking legal action against a negligent driver who caused your injuries, then you need to know how to build a compelling personal injury case. While your attorney can help you with much of the process, you shouldn’t hesitate to start building your case.
There are steps that you can take on your own to start positioning yourself to make strong legal arguments, but a lot of people don’t even know where to start in building their car accident personal injury claim. That’s why in this post we want to give you some direction so that can get to work fighting for what you deserve.
You don’t have to be a legal expert to kickstart your personal injury case. You just have to know where to look for evidence and know how to capture it. Here are some places you can start:
- Write down your recollection of the accident: Our memories can fade over time. Given that it could take a while for your personal injury claim to play out, you need to find a way to keep your memory fresh. Writing down as much as you can about the accident shortly after it occurs is a great way to capture key details. By documenting what you can recall, you give yourself a tool to turn to when your memory isn’t as strong as it needs to be given the gravity of the situation.
- Secure witness statements: Sure, you need to talk to witnesses who saw your accident and who have observed your physical and emotional injuries, but they might end up forgetting important details, too. It’s a good idea, then, to have these witnesses write down what they’ve seen and heard so that you can revisit their observations with them if you need to prepare them to testify in your personal injury case.
- Take pictures: Visual evidence like photographs can impact a jury. Therefore, you want photographs that detail the accident scene and your injuries. Be sure to capture vehicle impact points, traffic signs, traffic signals, tire marks, and vehicle resting positions. Also, take pictures of your injuries as shortly after your accident as you can, then continue to document them as you progress through your recovery.
- Keep a journal: Non-economic damages are going to make up a significant portion of your losses. By keeping a journal, you’ll have a detailed account of how your accident injuries have shaped the way you live your life, capturing your pain and suffering and your loss of enjoyment of life. Be detailed when creating your journal entries, and consistently make entries until your case resolves.
- Track your losses: Your car accident is going to hit you with significant financial losses. Sure, there’ll be property damage, but that’ll likely pale in comparison to your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages. So, be sure to retain all bills, invoices, and receipts that are related to your accident recovery.
Aggressively advocate for what you deserve
You need a strong outcome in your car accident personal injury case to secure the resources you need to further your recovery and retain stability. If you haphazardly build and present your personal injury case, then you put yourself at risk of a bad outcome that leaves you struggling for years to come. Although navigating the legal process can be stressful, don’t let it paralyze you. Use it as motivation to get to work building your case so that you can aggressively fight for what you deserve. If you need help, don’t be afraid to seek it out.
