Did you ever get into an accident and think, what now?
There you are with all your injuries, talking to insurance adjusters, trying to figure out if you have a case or not. But what you need to know is…
Without proper documentation, you may have the worst car accident injury case.
Personal injury statistics show that 95% of all personal injury cases are settled outside of the court. You will never need to go to court in many car accident injury cases. Your documentation is what it’s all about for a personal injury claim. If you are involved in such a case, consulting a California car accident lawyer can help you protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
In addition, if you have a personal injury lawyer, people that have personal injury lawyers receive payouts 2.6x greater than people that don’t have a lawyer . The best lawyer will not help your case if you do not have the appropriate evidence supporting your claim. That’s why it’s crucial to contact AutoAccident.com early to get expert guidance on building your car accident personal injury case.
In this post, you are going to learn…
- Why Documentation Can Make Or Break Your Case
- The Evidence That Actually Matters
- Common Documentation Mistakes That Cost You Money
- How To Build An Unshakeable Paper Trail
Why Documentation Can Make Or Break Your Case
Did you know that only 61% of car accident injury claims are actually successful?
A car accident injury claim that is successful is barely more than half of all cases. So what is the key to success and proper documentation?
Here’s the problem: Most people think their word is enough. You were injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. You think the other party’s insurance should just compensate you.
But it’s not how it works…
Insurance companies are in the business of making money, and they do that by paying out as little as possible.
Without the right documentation supporting your case, they will look for every opportunity to deny your claim or offer you the lowest settlement.
It’s up to you to show the accident occurred, the other person was at fault, you were injured, and those injuries cost you money.
Without documentation supporting every element of your claim, you are entering into the he-said-she-said territory. Insurance companies with unlimited budgets and top lawyers win every time.
The Evidence That Actually Matters
Not all documentation is created equal…
The good thing is that after having been through thousands of car accident cases, I know exactly what type of evidence moves the needle for a successful claim.
Police Reports: Your Foundation
The police report is the foundation of your claim, and it is as important as any other type of documentation.
Insurance companies know that the police were independent witnesses to the accident. And while police reports are not admissible as evidence in court, most adjusters won’t even consider your claim without one.
What makes a good police report?
- Official accident documentation.
- Fault determination.
- Witness information and statements
- Road and weather conditions
- Citations issued, if any.
What most people don’t know is the police will not show up to every accident. If there are no injuries and only minor vehicle damage, you may not even get a police report.
Photos And Videos: Visual Proof
This one is a no-brainer. A photo is worth a thousand words, and a video is worth a million in any car accident case.
Get pictures of every angle of all vehicles involved, the accident scene, street signs, road damage, any debris or injuries, and license plates.
Pro-tip: Use your phone’s timestamp to show when photos were taken. Insurance companies love to try and argue that.
Medical Records: Connecting The Dots
Let me just tell you how most people screw up here…
They think they will “tough it out” and forgo medical treatment. That’s the absolute wrong way to go.
If you don’t go to the hospital right after the accident, the insurance company is going to say your injuries are not serious and/or caused by the accident.
Your medical records need to tell the story of the accident and treatment as if they were reading a novel.
Get a timeline starting at the date of the accident through every follow-up visit and therapy session. If there is a lapse in treatment, the insurance company will pounce and say your injuries are not as serious.
Witness Statements: Third-Party Verification
Witnesses are the gold standard in car accident injury claims.
Insurance adjusters love to have statements from unbiased witnesses who have no reason to lie.
Get full names, contact information, written statements about what they saw, and permission to testify later if necessary.
Common Documentation Mistakes That Cost You Money
You’d be surprised at the amateur mistakes I see on a daily basis.
Mistake #1: Waiting Too Long
The first big mistake is waiting too long to gather evidence after the accident.
Security footage, witness availability, skid marks, and evidence at the accident scene all disappear fast.
Collect all the documentation you can as soon as possible after an accident.
Mistake #2: Incomplete Medical Documentation
The second common mistake is not having complete medical documentation of injuries and treatment.
Going to the hospital emergency room once is not enough. If you don’t have an entire medical treatment history showing initial treatment, follow-up appointments, therapy, etc. the insurance company will argue the injuries are not serious.
Mistake #3: Not Documenting Lost Income
If the injuries caused you to miss work, don’t just think they “know it.”
The insurance company needs hard proof in the form of pay stubs showing usual income, letters from your employer, and record of missed workdays.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Property Damage
Don’t focus only on your injuries. Make sure you document vehicle repair estimates, personal property damage, rental car expenses, and towing fees as well.
How To Build An Unshakeable Paper Trail
In order to build an unshakeable car accident injury case, it all comes down to creating a documentation system from day one.
Here’s how it’s done:
Immediately After The Accident:
- Call police and file a police report
- Take photos and videos from all angles
- Get contact info from any witnesses
- Exchange insurance and contact information
- Write down your own account while fresh
In The Days Following The Accident:
- Seek medical attention
- Start a pain journal
- Keep all receipts
- Get professional legal consultation if needed
- Notify your insurance company.
Throughout Your Recovery:
- Attend all medical appointments
- Follow through with all treatment recommendations
- Document how injuries affect daily life
- Keep expense records
- Avoid social media posts about the accident
Before Settlement Negotiations:
- Organize documentation chronologically
- Calculate total damages
- Get medical record copies
- Prepare a comprehensive demand package
The Bottom Line
Documentation is not just some paper to be filed away, it is your ticket to fair and just compensation.
With roughly 400,000 personal injury cases filed each year and a 61% success rate for car accident claims, having proper documentation makes all the difference between winning and losing.
Insurance companies have teams of claims adjusters and lawyers whose entire job is to minimize and deny your claim.
Your documentation is the shield that will protect you from their underhanded tactics.
Wrapping Things Up
If you have a lawyer, he or she can build a compelling case only on the evidence you provide.
Here’s another personal injury statistic to show you how important your documentation is.
Around 67% of personal injury payouts are settlements, not trials. That means your documentation needs to be solid enough to convince an insurance company to pay up without even going to court.
You want to start building your paper trail immediately after any accident. The difference between a successful claim and a denied one is the right evidence at the right time.
