When involved in an auto accident, one of the skills you will quickly realize is of utmost importance is your ability to keep everything organized. Filing a personal injury lawsuit will prove to be difficult as you will face a ton of paperwork, but don’t worry as you’re not doing this alone.
The documents you will gather will support the declarations you will make. Here are the most pertinent documentations you will need to prepare, collect, and organize after your accident:
● Law Enforcement Reports
You should call 911 immediately after the accident, no matter how mild you think your injuries are. Police officers will prepare a police report, which is sometimes referred to as an “accident report” or “incident report.”
This report is a great place to start establishing your case as it contains crucial information. This includes the potential cause of the accident, whether or not traffic violations were committed, witness statements, and statements of those involved in the accident.
Contact the law enforcement agency that came to the scene of your accident to get a copy of the police report.
● Medical Records
Keep a record of your medical appointments by tracking your injuries and how they have impacted your life. In your files, include the following:
- Hospital Admission
- Exam And Test Results
- Your Doctor’s Medical Narratives
- Doctor’s Orders For Physical Therapy
- Chiropractic Care
- Rehab Or Physical Therapy Progress Notes
Ask for copies from every healthcare provider you see, whether they be your chiropractor or your therapist. Don’t forget to request a copy of the treatment you received, the diagnoses given to you, medications prescribed, and other important documentation. Make sure you organize these files in a chronological order.
● Bills
The bills you’ve acquired throughout this whole ordeal are the key to proving your losses. Keep copies of the bills you’ve received because of your injuries.
Aside from your hospital and doctor bills, gather bills that are related to the accident. If you have had to go see a dentist or a mental health professional, see to it that you include those. Ask your pharmacist for a copy of the total cost of your medication as well, and get a receipt for medical devices such as crutches or braces.
Make sure to keep copies of receipts of transportation expenses and parking fees whenever you have to go to your medical appointments. In addition, if you’ve had to hire someone for tasks such as mowing the lawn or taking care of your children, include invoices of replacement services.
● Photographs And Videos
Photos and videos of anything related to the accident are critical evidence. Print all photographs, and keep digital copies of photos and videos alike so you have backup files.
Include photos of your injuries and your recovery process. At the back of each picture, write the date it was taken and what it represents.
● Your Notes
Another skill you might need to brush up on to file your personal injury lawsuit is note-taking. Write down your statement right after the incident. Keep a detailed and chronological record of your daily life following the crash. Your notes should also remind you of what was discussed during phone calls with your medical provider, witnesses, your employer, and others.
If you were injured by the accident, write down how you feel on a daily basis. If you’ve missed work because of what happened, keep a log of that, too.
Keeping Your Documentation Organized
There’s a lot of paperwork you have to deal with, so it’s best to keep everything in a large accordion-style folder. Get one with many dividers and tabs inside. Label each section properly.
Secure your folder with an elastic band to keep everything from spilling out. Having your files organized will give you instant access to any document you need when speaking with your attorney.
Talking To An Attorney
Do the steps seem overwhelming? Work with an auto accident lawyer to help you in gathering and organizing the documents you require.