Road Traffic Accident Claims – How to Document Essential Evidence for Your Claim

Nobody expects to be, or wants to be, involved in a road traffic accident, but the reality is that it happens to hundreds of thousands of people every year. If you are the victim of a road traffic accident there are certain things you need to do so that you can make a successful claim for compensation. Below is an outline of the essential evidence you should collect to support your claim.

Documenting evidence for your claim

When it comes to compensation, road traffic accident claims need to be well documented. This means you need to provide evidence that supports your claim. Documenting the incident should begin as soon after the accident as possible, once all involved are safe and essential medical attention has been sought.

• Make notes of everything you can recall about the accident. Include details of road and weather conditions as well as positions of vehicles before and after the accident. Record any critical information such as behaviour by other drivers immediately before the accident which you consider might have contributed to the accident.
• Take photographs of the accident scene. If possible do this immediately following the incident. Photograph damage to vehicles, and injuries sustained by those involved, and anything in the vicinity which might have contributed to the incident such as obstacles in the road.
• Get witnesses if other people were present when the accident occurred, make sure to get their contact details and a brief summary of what they saw as the accident unfolded. You can contact them later to get a fuller account of exactly what happened.
• Document all injuries you suffered. Photograph any injuries and when you seek medical attention make sure to get a copy of any X-rays and other medical documents which will help support your claim.
• Loss of earnings as a result of your injuries and being absent from work should be recorded; it is essential that you document this, along with other expenses generated as a result of the accident.
• Other losses and expenses – keep all receipts associated with medical treatment. You can also claim for other types of losses such as having to cancel a holiday which was booked, or missing an event you had bought tickets for. Compile detailed evidence of all expenses of losses which occur in relation to your accident.

The claims process

Claiming compensation can be a somewhat complex and lengthy process for anyone who is not familiar with the ins and outs of how things work. It is best to consult a claims expert like http://shireslaw.com to seek advice about how you should proceed with your claim. A claims specialist will be able to evaluate your case based on the evidence you provide and advise you about the best way to take your claim forward, if it is valid.