When you get injured in an accident, you may be eligible to pursue compensation for the damages your injuries have caused. There are certain steps you can take that may help preserve your claim, such as trying to preserve evidence at the scene.

Contact an experienced lawyer from our team at Goldberg Finnegan today to learn more about your legal options and how we may help you collect and preserve evidence. We offer a free, no obligation consultation and provide our services on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront costs. We only get paid if we successfully obtain compensation for your case.

Collecting Physical Evidence

Physical evidence is pivotal to any personal injury claim. For your claim to move forward, you will need to prove that the other person or entity involved in the accident is at fault. It will be nearly impossible to do so if you do not have physical evidence to present to the insurance company or jury.

While it may not be possible to keep some physical evidence, you can at least take pictures or video of it. Examples of physical evidence to photograph may include:

  • Broken traffic lights
  • Loose flooring
  • Buckled pavement
  • Missing safety barriers
  • Broken railings or stairs
  • Bushes or trees hanging over a lane of travel
  • Missing or faded lane striping
  • Inadequate lighting

If you have been seriously injured, you can ask a friend or family member at the scene to take pictures or video for you. Otherwise, you can take photos and record video of the accident scene.

Do not worry about what you think might be relevant. There is no such thing as too many pictures. Your attorney can review the photos or video later to find the important evidence for your claim.

Physical evidence is not limited to debris from the scene or the other things mentioned above. It also includes things like police reports and medical records.

Witness Accounts

Along with the physical evidence from the crash scene and the police report, you may need witness accounts to strengthen the validity of your claim. It can be difficult to pin liability on someone if there were no witnesses to the accident, even with medical records about your injuries from your doctor.

Ask witnesses what they saw and have them provide you their name, phone number, email address and any other contact information that your lawyer can use. Sometimes all you need is one witness account of the accident to strengthen your personal injury claim.

Documenting Injuries

Documenting the injuries you suffered in any type of accident can be crucial to the success of your claim. One of the best ways to do this is to keep a journal. An experienced attorney knows how to use a personal injury journal to your advantage as evidence.

The journal should include all of the following information:

  • A detailed account of the incident: date, time, location, people involved, weather, witnesses and more
  • The treatment you have already received
  • Medication you are taking for your injuries
  • Your perceived level of pain
  • How the injuries have impacted your daily life

Injured in an Accident? Contact an Attorney Today

If you have suffered an injury in any type of accident, it is important that you contact a Silver Spring personal injury attorney immediately. Call the office of Goldberg Finnegan to schedule a free evaluation of your case. You will not be charged for our services unless we successfully recover compensation for your case.