What Information to Save Following an Injury
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe personal injury attorney. Following an injury, it is important to save information pertaining to your accident. When you meet with a personal injury attorney it is important to have as much information as possible to help the attorney evaluate your case. The following is a basic list of important documents to save and provide at your consultation.
Police Report or Incident Report
If you have an incident or police report associated with your injury, request it as soon as possible and put it in a file folder for safe keeping. If you are unsure how to obtain a report or if there was a report made, my office can help assist you. If your accident involved the California Highway Patrol (CHP) the link below may be useful.
How To Get a California Highway Patrol Accident Report
Insurance Information
A personal injury attorney will be able to determine what your insurance policy covers. Make a copy of your auto, homeowners/renters, and health insurance policy declarations page and add it to your accident folder. Depending on your policy, there may be coverage for lost wages and medical coverage you may not be aware of. The link provided below goes over health insurance and personal injury claims.
Health Insurance in Personal Injury Claims
Information From the Party That Caused Your Injuries
It is important to save all correspondence and communication from the party who caused your injuries. Some important things to save from the person or their insurance company are:
- E-mails
- Letters
- Voice Mails
- Text Messages
Print out any communication and add it to the accident folder. The link below goes over some great information.
Accidents and Personal Information
Photographic Evidence
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is very true in personal injury cases. Photos that document the accident scene, your injuries and the damage to your case are very helpful forms of evidence and will help your claim. Printing the photos out and adding them to your folder saves you from scrolling through your phone’s photo library while meeting with your attorney. The link below goes over making the most of your accidents evidence.
Lost Wages
Chances are you have missed some work due to your accident and injuries you suffered as a result of. Even if you used sick leave or vacation time you may still be entitled to your lost wages. Make a copy of your W-2 forms, pay stubs, and any work excuse forms given to you by a hospital or doctor. If you’re self-employed, the below link will help you.
I am Self-Employed. How is my Wage Loss Determined in my Personal Injury Claim?
Bills and Receipts
If you want to claim any expenses associated with your accident and injury claim, it is important to keep each and every bill and receipt. Typical expenses seen in personal injury claims are:
- Medical Treatment
- Prescriptions/Medical Supplies
- Rental Car
- Repair Bills
If you are unsure if a certain expense is related, it’s best to save the receipt and add it to your accident folder. Your personal injury attorney will be able to help you figure it out. Take a look at the link below about hospital bills following an accident.
High Hospital Bills from an Accident? What can you do?
Provider Information and Medical Documentation
After you were injured, you most likely received medical care with either the emergency room/urgent clinic or your family physician. It is important to collect information from every provider you see for your injuries. Some basic information to have in your accident folder is:
- Doctors Name
- Hospital or Clinic Name
- Hospital or Clinic Address and Phone Number
- Date of Visit
- Brief Description or Reason of Visit.
It is common following an accident that you may have difficulty remembering all the information or appointments. Having the above information makes it easier for your personal injury attorney to request a copy of all your medical records. You are entitled to certain privacy rights following a personal injury claim. The below link is very helpful.
Privacy Rights After Filing Personal Injury Lawsuits
South Lake Tahoe Personal Injury Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe personal injury attorney. If you, or a member of your family has suffered traumatic injuries or the loss of life, please call me at (530) 392-9400 for fast, free, and friendly advice. I can also be reached toll-free if calling outside of the 530 at (800) 404-5400.
I’ve been assisting individuals and families recover compensation for their personal injury and wrongful death claims for over three decades.
I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Members of this forum have reached verdicts or settlements of 1 Million dollars or more.
You can see some of my recent results I have obtained for my clients on my past verdicts and settlements page.
See what my previous clients have to say about us on Avvo, Google, and Yelp.
Founder of www.autoaccident.com, Northern California’s top-trending informative website for personal injury and auto accident information.
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