After being injured in a car accident, you want to find a way to hold the errant driver who harmed you accountable while recovering the compensation you need to offset your damages. Your losses can be significant, so if you inadequately prepare your case then you could end up with long-term instability and an insufficient physical and emotional recovery.
While much of your personal injury case will focus on gathering evidence to show that the other driver was negligent, a lot of its success will also rely on your ability to show the extent of your damages. But what’s the most effective way to go about doing that?
Tips for showing the full extent of your damages in a personal injury lawsuit
There are many ways to approach proving your damages, but regardless of the strategies you implement, you’ll want to be thorough. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best places to find evidence to support your claim for damages.
- Medical records: This might seem like a given, but your medical records are going to go a long way toward proving not just the medical expenses that you’ve incurred up to this point, but also your need for ongoing care and treatment.
- Expert testimony: Even though your medical records might show that you need continuing medical care, illustrating the costs associated with that care and how your condition will impact your ability to live a normal life and return to work can be tricky. This is where testimony from a medical expert may prove beneficial. Additionally, an employment expert might be able to testify as to how your injuries will impact your ability to get back to work and advance in your career.
- Employment records: Your pay stubs and tax returns will help you show your lost income based on the amount of work that you’ve been forced to miss on account of your accident injuries.
- Mental health records: Your accident has likely taken a significant toll on your mental health. You might be experiencing anxiety, depression, and flashbacks. You should be compensated for all of these harms, but you’ll only be able to do so if you can show the impact your accident actually had on your mental health. This is where your mental health records and testimony from your mental healthcare provider can help.
- Your journal: A large portion of your damages aren’t as easily calculable as your medical expenses and lost wages. Your pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, for example, are hard to put a price on. However, if you keep a written journal detailing your injuries’ impact on your life, then you can paint a compelling picture of the extent of harm that your accident has caused to you.
- Receipts and invoices: Remember, you need to be as detailed as possible when tracking your expenses. Therefore, you should be sure to retain all receipts and invoices that are related to your accident, such as those from the purchase of medical equipment, medication, and supplies.
Fight to recover what you’re owed
It might be hard to fully recover from the harm that’s been caused to you by your accident, but a successful personal injury case can get you closer to where you want to be in your journey to reclaim your pre-accident life. Before you can recover what you’re owed, you need to develop a strong strategy that’s focused on the legal elements in play and the extent of your damages. By taking an aggressive line in your case, you put yourself on a path to a stronger recovery.