Document the evidence and prepare for your personal injury claim

Hello Folks, Attorney Paul Samakow here.

Today’s topic may seem underwhelming at first.  But bear with me.  In reality, what we discuss today could mean the difference between your personal injury claim settling for policy limits or being denied outright. 

Do I have your attention now? 

I hope so.  

And now that I’ve told you what’s potentially on the line, I’ll dive right in.  

The topic of today’s blog is on the importance of properly documenting evidence.  Sounds boring? Trust me, its anything but when you’re talking about a personal injury claim.  To a personal injury attorney, ‘properly documented evidence’ are three magic words. 

Why? 

Because properly documenting evidence is critical if you want to build a strong personal injury claim. In fact, the more evidence you have, the stronger your case will be. And the better your chances of recovering fair compensation for your losses. 

In order to establish fault, you have to prove someone else caused the auto collision.   The best way to do this is, you guessed it, with properly documented evidence.  This means gathering eyewitness testimony, photographs, dash-cam, and nearby surveillance footage and more.  

Medical bills, lost wages, and additional expenses you may have incurred as a result of your injuries must all be gathered to help prove the extent of your injuries and the impact they’ve had on your life.  

Timeliness is important as well. Evidence can disappear.  Tire marks on the road or damage to a vehicle can be repaired or erased.  This can make it difficult to establish fault.  So, take pictures and video with your phone.  If you have a dash-cam, be sure to save the video of the collision.  If there are witnesses, make sure their statements are recorded and find out if they have dash-cam footage of the collision.  Gather this evidence as soon as you can, and you are setting yourself up for success with a personal injury claim down the road. 

Strong evidence including medical records, accident reports, pictures, video footage and more helps increase your chance of receiving a fair settlement when it’s time to enter final negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurance company.  The insurance adjuster is more likely to agree to a fair settlement instead of insisting the case go to court if they see your claim is well prepared. 

Each personal injury claim is different.  There are unique circumstances that can affect a settlement offer and should be reviewed by an experienced personal injury attorney.  You want the best personal injury attorney helping you with organizing documented evidence and making sure everything is accounted for. 

If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident and would like assistance with gathering evidence and building a personal injury claim that can help you put your life back on track, please call my office immediately 703-854-9288 or 301-298-8383.

Until next time, please be safe, and NEVER text while driving!

Paul Samakow

Attorney Paul Samakow