What Evidence Is Most Important in Building a Strong Injury Case?
A personal injury action can only succeed when the plaintiff proves every element of the underlying claim. There are four elements you'll need to prove, which are:- A legal duty was owed to you by the defendant
- There was a breach of that duty
- That breach was the actual and proximate cause of the harm you've suffered
- You have compensable damages
Medical Records
Medical proof is usually the center of these cases, as it supplies the only reliable account of the injury itself, its cause, its duration, and the losses that followed from it. You'll typically need to produce a written report from the attending physician who treated you, stating the nature and extent of your injury, the treatment you've been given, any temporary or permanent disability you're suffering from these injuries, the prognosis for your recovery, and anything else your lawyer may advice you to include. Then you'll also need itemized medical, dental, and hospital bills or receipts to go along with the report and prove what you spent (or are being billed) for treatment.Lost Wages and Salary
The best way to prove what you've lost here is with a written statement from your employer that records the hours or days you've actually missed, whether you worked full- or part-time, and the wages or salary that you've lost. If you're self-employed, you'll need documentary evidence of the exact income that was lost.If you've missed out on a bonus that you would have otherwise been eligible for, lost paid time off or vacation days, or weren't able to take overtime that you normally would have (and that overtime was available had you been able to take it), you'll be able to collect for all this, as well, with the right documentation.