If you have been injured in an accident at someone else’s house and you filed a personal injury claim, you need to make sure you get enough evidence together to support your claim. Any evidence must be preserved and taken care of until after the claim has been settled.
Here are some ways you can preserve evidence after a fall:
Go Back to the Scene
If possible, you should return to the accident scene. In this case, since it is the home of someone else they might not want you there taking photographs and that is to be understood. In that case, you leave it up to a personal injury attorney to gather the evidence and get photos if possible. If you are allowed on the property, look for these types of evidence:
- Damaged flooring or loose tiles
- Slick areas on the floor
- Loose rugs or mats
- Areas where one could easily trip
You should photograph every area that could lead to a fall. Documentation for each of these photographs to support your claim is also essential. Proving who is liable for the injury is important to winning a personal injury case and these photos might be the evidence that you need.
Have someone do the documentation for you. You can have a family member or even your personal injury lawyer record the details that go with each photo you take. This should include the angle, the location, the time, and even the date the photo was taken to help support your claim.
Protect the Physical Evidence
Physical evidence can also prove who is at fault or liable for an accident and the injuries that result. While photos help preserve physical evidence, other physical evidence is also needed. Keep your clothing and shoes that you were wearing at the time of the accident. If you had glasses that got broken, save those as well. Save anything you had on you that was damaged.
Make sure your initial injuries are properly photographed. Maintain thorough medical records and make sure your personal injury attorney has access to the records from all the doctors who treated you for injuries after the accident.
Locate Witnesses to the Accident
Since the accident was at a home, it should not be difficult to track down the witnesses. You attorney knows how to track down the witnesses and to approach them for comments. He or she will make sure this is accurately addressed to help your personal injury claim against the homeowner. You might have difficulty getting family members or friends of the homeowner to comment, but your lawyer knows what to do.
The Role of a Personal Injury Attorney
Your personal injury attorney can make sure all documentation is put in order and that your evidence is properly filed so support your claim. Your personal injury attorney can improve your odds of being awarded compensation. Your attorney can gather evidence and maintain the documentation that is needed to prove your claim and to show who is liable for the damages that you experienced as a result of the accident.
