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The evidence needed for a personal injury claim includes proof of your psychological and/or bodily harm, as well as the negligent actions that caused your accident. The stronger your evidence is, the more likely you will be able to claim personal injury compensation. The prospect of collecting your evidence can seem dauting, especially if this the first time you have considered making a claim. However, some evidence is simple to gather and a personal injury solicitor can help you with the rest.
Important Takeaways
- Your evidence can include a copy of your medical records, an accident report, photographs, witness statements and more
- It is a good idea to keep your own records of the pain, medical treatment and expenses that you have experienced
- Whether you are claiming for an accident at work, in public or on the road, you will need to submit evidence
- Your first priority should be getting the medical attention you need, though your medical records may also help you to claim later
- A No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel can help you to identify what evidence you need, take witness statements and organise an independent medical assessment where necessary
Don’t hesitate to contact our advisors if you have any questions about making a claim. They can confirm whether you have valid grounds to proceed and explain how to prove your case. They may connect you to a solicitor from our panel for expert legal guidance. Trying to understand the personal injury claims process can seem daunting on your own, so why not seek out free advice offered with no strings attached?
Jump To A Section
- The Evidence Needed For A Personal Injury Claim
- What To Do Immediately After An Accident Occurs
- The Importance Of Seeking Early Medical Attention
- What Other Evidence Should Be Obtained
- How Keeping Personal Records Could Help A Claim
- Road Traffic Accident Additional Evidence
- When To Speak To A Legal Expert
- How Could Legal Helpline Support A Personal Injury Claim
- More Information
The Evidence Needed For A Personal Injury Claim
You will need to prove your injuries and the actions that caused them in order to make a personal injury claim. Each case is different, so the amount and type of evidence required will be unique to your circumstances.
Strong evidence can support different aspects of your claim and improve your chances of getting compensation. The defending party may be unwilling to accept liability for the accident, so you can use evidence to prove that they failed to fulfil their duty of care to you.
You can contact our advisors at any time to discuss the evidence needed for a personal injury claim. This gives you the chance to discuss your case directly and access tailored advice.
What To Do Immediately After An Accident Occurs
Immediately after an accident occurs, you should report the incident, take photos or videos of the accident scene and gather the contact information of those who witnessed the incident.
Who you make your report to will depend on the nature of your accident. For example, after an accident at work, you can make a report to your manager. They should make a note of this in your workplace accident book and may have to report the incident to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). This is the body that monitors workplace health and safety in Great Britain.
The process of gathering the evidence needed for a personal injury claim can be much easier if you start it as soon as possible. Enquire with our advisors today to learn more about the evidence needed and what actions to take to protect your best interests.
The Importance Of Seeking Early Medical Attention
Your first priority should be getting any medical help you need, whether you need to visit an emergency healthcare centre, GP surgery or therapy. This can improve your chances of recovery and reduce your discomfort.
You may be under financial pressure due your injuries and want to start legal proceedings as soon as possible to get compensation. However, seeking medical care will create official documentation of your injuries, their severity and what treatment you need. Therefore, while focusing on your well-being, you would also be taking actions to bolster your case further down the line.
You can request a copy of your medical records as part of the claims process. Reach out to our advisors to learn how to do this and find out what other evidence is needed for a personal injury claim.
What Other Evidence Should Be Obtained
In addition to a copy of your medical records, you can also use photographs of your injuries, CCTV footage and witness testimonials to strengthen your case. Keep reading for further details of the evidence needed for a personal injury claim.
Photographs Of Injuries
You can use photographs to show the extent of your visible injuries. This can be useful to show harm such as bruising, lacerations and burns.
It is a good idea to take photographs at various stages of your recovery. This can help to show the time scale of your recovery or any permanent effects, such as scarring.
CCTV Footage
If your accident was covered by a CCTV camera, you may be able to get a copy of the footage and use it to show what happened. You can request a copy in writing or verbally from the owner of the CCTV system.
It may help them to get you the right footage if you tell them the specific time and date of the incident and provide proof of your identity. CCTV footage is often deleted within 30 days of a recording, so it is important that you make your request as soon as possible.
Witness Testimonials
As stated previously in the guide, you can gather the contact details of those who witnessed your accident. At a later stage, your solicitor can contact them for an eyewitness statement, which may help to prove your case. Witnesses can confirm the cause of your accident, your bodily harm and what happened afterwards.
You don’t need to figure out what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim on your own. Our advisors are available 24/7 to help you. They may even be able to connect you with a No Win No Fee solicitor from our panel, who can help you to get the evidence you need.
How Keeping Personal Records Could Help A Claim
Your own personal records can help to prove how you were impacted by the accident, who was responsible for it and what actions you took. You can keep records of the following:
- A diary of symptoms and medical treatment
- Personal statements of your experience
- Copies of correspondence between yourself and the defending party
- A list of expenses you have accumulated due to your injuries (you may be able to recover these under special damages as part of a successful claim)
Some personal injury claims can take years to settle, so you may find it helpful to have your own record of events to come back to throughout the process. There is no harm in writing down anything you find relevant as you go along. If your claim takes awhile to reach a settlement, your solicitor will help you apply for interim payments and advise on whether you need any evidence to support this.
At a later stage, should you work with a solicitor from our panel, they can take a look at your records and identify what could be useful for your personal injury case.
Road Traffic Accident Additional Evidence
After a road traffic accident, your additional evidence should include the contact and insurance details of other parties involved and their vehicle registrations. Drivers are legally obliged to provide this after an accident. Some cases involve uninsured drivers, for which there is a different way to claim compensation.
You must report a collision that causes damage or injury to the police. Furthermore, if you do not provide your name and address at the time of the accident, you need to report this to the police as soon as reasonably practicable (but within 24 hours). If this applies, you may be able to use your crime reference number and police updates as part of your case.
Get in touch with our helpful enquiries team today to find out whether you can make a road traffic accident claim. They can also highlight what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim and how a solicitor from our panel could help you to proceed.
When To Speak To A Legal Expert
If you are hoping to start a compensation claim, it is important that you find the right solicitor for you. Deciding what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim can be difficult without the right legal expertise.
Our panel of solicitors have decades of combined experience in helping claimants to provide the right evidence for their case. They can assist you by:
- Explaining who you need to contact to access official records, such as your medical information
- Contacting witnesses and noting down statements
- Using your evidence to bolster arguments made in your favour
- Organising further evidence through third parties (such as an independent medical assessment)
Speak with our advisory team to learn more about the excellent legal services provided by our panel.
How Could Legal Helpline Support A Personal Injury Claim
A solicitor from our panel could support your case by representing you on a No Win No Fee basis. A Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) is a contract that works along these lines. By signing a CFA, you do not have to pay for your solicitor’s work:
- Before the compensation claim begins
- While your case is proceeding
- If you are not given compensation
However, should you be compensated, you will owe a success fee to your solicitor. This is a taken as a percentage from your compensation. There is a legally binding cap in place, so you can rest assured that you will keep the largest share of the total.
Speak To Our Team About Your Claim
Get in touch with our enquiries team for a free initial consultation. They can explain whether you meet the criteria to proceed and even estimate what your compensation could cover. You could also be put in touch with an experienced solicitor from our panel who can help you to get the evidence needed for a personal injury claim. A compensation award could help to reduce the financial stress caused by your injuries, so why wait to contact us?
- Call us on 0333 000 0729
- Submit an enquiry online
- Use the live chat feature in the corner to speak directly with an advisor
More Information
Read our other personal injury claim guides below:
- Learn about serious injury claims
- Find out what an interim payment is
- Visit our guide on claiming compensation for a broken bone
External resources:
- Read about claiming Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- Follow the NHS guidance on when to call 999
- Visit the HSE statistics on workplace accidents
Thank you for taking the time to read our guide on what evidence is needed for a personal injury claim.
