Following an accident, victims often experience physical, emotional, and financial burdens that disrupt their normal lives. While this can be devastating, recovering compensation for your damages isn’t as simple as you may believe. When liability is disputed, it will take substantial evidence to prove another party’s actions caused your injuries. Please continue reading to learn what evidence you should collect to support your personal injury claim and why connecting with our skilled Bradenton Personal Injury Lawyers is in your best interest.
Why is it Important to Gather Evidence After an Accident in FL?
If you have sustained an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you will find that recovering compensation for your damages can be difficult. This is because liability will likely be disputed. The other party will deny that they were responsible. Florida is a modified comparative negligence state, which means that if the injured party is found to be more than 50% at fault, they will face the absolute bar of recovery. Essentially, the compensation they can receive will be reduced by the degree of their fault. As such, gathering evidence to demonstrate that you were not negligent in these matters is crucial to safeguard your rights.
What Evidence Do I Need to Support My Personal Injury Claim?
Your first concern should be your health and well-being in the immediate aftermath of the accident. It’s important to seek medical attention. If you receive medical care at the scene or in the days following, the other party cannot claim that you contributed to the severity of your damages by delaying or refusing medical treatment, thus deeming you negligent. Keep track of your medical records as this evidence can link your injuries to the accident. This will help you satisfy the burden of proof.
If circumstances permit, you should take pictures and videos of the accident scene, your injuries, property damage, and any other factors that could have contributed to the incident. If any witnesses observed the accident, collect their contact information as their testimonies can corroborate your version of the events. Witnesses can provide an objective account that can help provide additional details that you may have missed.
Furthermore, when the police arrive at the scene of the accident, they will investigate the cause. They will create a report that contains crucial details surrounding the accident. It’s important to note that you cannot admit a police report as evidence, but it can but its contents can be useful for your lawyer to build a strong case.
As you can see, it’s imperative to preserve evidence as it can maximize your chances of fulfilling the burden of proof and recovering the just compensation you deserve. At Becker & Lindauer, LLC, we are prepared to help you navigate this complex legal process. Connect with our dedicated legal team today to learn how we can fight for you.