Illinois law allows people to file an injury claim or lawsuit against a party if that party’s actions caused them harm. Through a personal injury claim, individuals hurt in a car crash, commercial truck wreck, construction accident, slip and fall, or other incidents may be able to recover financial compensation for their damages.
Bringing a winning injury claim and recovering monetary damages is no easy task. Insurance companies will fight tooth and nail to avoid paying injured parties what they need and deserve. You will need a powerful claim backed by persuasive evidence to be successful.
Types of Evidence in a Personal Injury Case
Personal injury claims allow injured parties to seek financial restitution and justice after an injury. The types of evidence you will need to win your case depends on the unique circumstances of the accident that led to your injury.
Some of the most common evidence sources include:
- Medical records – Regardless of how you were injured, you will need detailed records of the injury and the types of medical care you needed for the injury. Medical records act as proof of your injuries as well as the financial losses you suffered through medical expenses.
- Pay stubs – You will need documentation of your income to pursue compensation for lost wages caused by missed work.
- Accident reports – If you were hurt in a commercial establishment such as a business, the staff should make an accident report detailing the circumstances of the injurious event.
- Video footage – In today’s modern world, there are cameras everywhere. If your injury was caught on camera, it is crucial that your attorney obtain and preserve the footage as soon as possible. Traffic cameras, dash cameras, security cameras, and even residential doorbell cameras can be invaluable sources of evidence.
- Photographs – Similarly to video footage, photographs can be used to document the extent of your injuries and property damage.
- Tangible evidence – Anything from the clothes you were wearing at the time of the injury to motor vehicle damage may be useful in your personal injury case.
- Police reports – If the police were called to the scene of your accident, there will be an official police report detailing the circumstances of the accident or injury.
- Witness statements – People who saw the accident take place can provide a first-hand account of what happened. Witness statements should be gathered soon after the accident while the memory is fresh in the witnesses’ minds.
- Vehicle repair bills – If you were in a motor vehicle accident, you will need repair invoices and/or quotes to prove the financial loss you suffered due to property damage.
- Expert testimony – In some personal injury cases, professionals such as medical specialists, vocational rehabilitation experts, or crash reconstructionists will offer expert opinions an insight regarding the cause, nature, and consequences of an injurious accident.
Contact a Wheaton Personal Injury Attorney
DuPage County personal injury lawyer David W. Clark has more than 25 years of experience representing injured clients. If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident call Law Offices of David W. Clark, P.C. at 630-665-5678 for a free consultation.
Source:
https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/illinois-pattern-jury-instructions-civil/