What Documents Do I Need After A Car Accident?
Brian O Sutter
Accident Lawyers
After a car accident, there will be a lot of paperwork you need to gather to prove any damages. When you pursue compensation for your losses, your award will be determined by your ability to prove your claims. This requires evidence of the accident, your injuries, and the connection between the two. The best evidence is documentation of all the events following the accident from medical visits to lost income to vehicle damage. Here is a list of the documents that you should gather after your car accident so you can prove your damages.Police Report: No matter the circumstances of your accident, you should always call the police. The police will help document the accident in an official record. This record will include important details that can help you prove your claim including:
● Proof the accident occurred
● Potential causes of the accident
● Whether or not any traffic laws were violated
● Witness testimonies
To obtain the police report, you will need to contact the law enforcement agency and provide your name and the name(s) of the other driver(s), the date of the accident, and if possible, the badge number of the responding office.
Medical Records: Medical records cannot only prove you are injured but they can prove your injuries are a result of the accident. In order to obtain your medical records, you will need to contact your medical providers or their billing office. You will need record of diagnosis, treatment recommendations, and any other notes on the injury. Depending on your medical treatments, you will need documentation of:
● Emergency medical services and treatments
● Treatments from your primary caregiver and specialists
● Prescription records
● Physical therapy
● Chiropractic care
Know that it can sometimes take your medical providers weeks to process this request, so a good idea is to request the documents as you go through your medical care.
Proof Of Income: If you’ve missed work or have had to leave your job because your injuries are so severe that you can no longer perform your regular duties, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income. In order to prove lost income you will need records of your income which can include:
● Pay stubs
● Direct deposit records
● Tip records
● Tax records
Vehicle Records: If you are making a claim for vehicle damage, you will need to show the value of your vehicle and the cost of the repairs. A lot of what documentation you get depends on your specific insurance policy. You will want to make sure that you have a value estimation from a reputable source like Kelley Blue Book and 2-3 estimates for the cost to fix the damage.
Miscellaneous Documents: Depending on the other circumstances of your accident, you may also want to collect:
● Photographs of the accident scene
● Photographs of your injuries
● Accident journal documenting events after the accident
● Any correspondence with the insurance company
● Opinions of expert witnesses
All of these documents are vital for proving your claims. However, collecting them can be very difficult when you are injured. At All Injuries Law Firm, our personal injury attorneys specialize in auto accidents. When you work with us, we will collect all the necessary documents you need to prove your claims. That way you can focus on healing from your injuries, rather than dealing with paperwork. We’ll also review your case and make sure that you are pursuing the full value of your damages and not just want the insurance company tells you they are worth. Call us today at 1-941-625-HURT for a free case review to see how we can help.