The evidence you need for an injury claim often includes medical records, photographs or videos, and accident reports. Witness statements, employment records, and other documentation that establishes liability, proves your injuries, or supports your damages can also help.
At Jones & Swanson, we will look at your circumstances and determine your legal options. Our Marietta personal injury lawyers will do everything possible to advocate for your rights and pursue a fair outcome in your case.
Evidence Helps Explain How You Were Injured
When you are injured, it is easy to think the facts speak for themselves. You know what happened. You know where it hurts. You know how different your life feels now. An insurance company does not experience any of those things firsthand.
The insurer will evaluate your claim based on the information it has. Evidence matters. It gives your claim support beyond your own account of what happened and helps establish the connection between another person’s conduct, your injury, and the losses you experienced.
There is not one piece of evidence that automatically proves every personal injury claim, but at Jones & Swanson, your attorney will look at how all of the evidence fits together. Depending on the circumstances, evidence in your injury claim might include:
- Medical records and bills
- Photographs and videos
- Accident or incident reports
- Statements from witnesses
- Insurance information
- Employment and income records
- Property damage records
- Communications with the responsible party or insurance company
Some evidence establishes liability. Other evidence establishes your injuries. Still other records demonstrate the financial consequences of an accident. A strong claim brings those pieces together so they tell one consistent story.
Medical Records Can Show the Extent of Your Injuries
Medical records are among the first pieces of evidence people think about, and for good reason. They provide a record of the symptoms you reported, the examinations performed, the diagnoses you received, and the treatment your healthcare providers recommended.
Your medical records could also help establish when your symptoms began and how they developed over time. For example, someone involved in a car accident could initially experience headaches and neck pain. Later appointments could document these matters:
- Continued symptoms
- Imaging results
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Restrictions on physical activity
Medical evidence also helps demonstrate that an injury required more than a single visit. If your recovery involves months of treatment, your records will help document that process.
At Jones & Swanson, our attorneys will collect all relevant medical records and related bills rather than expecting you to decide which documents belong in your claim. If different providers treated different injuries, those records will be considered to reflect your overall experience.
Evidence Also Helps If Insurance Companies Disagree
Insurance companies do not have to accept every statement made in a personal injury claim without investigation. Adjusters often question these details:
- The cause of your injury
- The severity of your symptoms
- The amount of medical treatment you received
- How much lost income you missed
- Other parts of your claim
This means it’s more important than ever that your evidence supports your position. At Jones & Swanson, your lawyer will communicate with the insurance company and provide the appropriate documentation on your behalf.
Your claim should explain these matters:
- The connection between the incident and your injuries
- The treatment you received
- The losses you experienced
- The damages supported by the evidence
This is also why it’s important to avoid giving insurers any rushed or incomplete accounts of your injuries. You don’t have to diagnose yourself or predict your own recovery.
Instead, let your healthcare providers address your medical condition while your attorney handles the legal presentation of your claim.
Georgia Gives Personal Injury Claims a Filing Deadline
Evidence matters, but so does time. Georgia Code § 9-3-33 generally requires actions for injuries to the person to be brought within two years after the right of action accrues, though this deadline might be subject to exceptions within the statute.
This is another reason why you should get your claim reviewed before any of the evidence in your case becomes difficult to obtain and before the filing deadline approaches. The exact deadline for your case depends on the circumstances.
Different claims can involve different limitations periods, and certain legal circumstances affect how a deadline is calculated. At Jones & Swanson, our attorneys will identify the applicable deadline and handle the legal work required to preserve your claim.
Jones & Swanson Builds Claims Around Real People and Real Evidence
Being injured is only one part of your personal injury claim. With the help of our lawyers, you will also need to establish if another person or party is legally responsible, how your injuries resulted from the incident, and which losses you sustained as a result.
At Jones & Swanson, our attorneys will explain what evidence you need for an injury claim and evaluate all relevant proof in your case. From there, we will focus on building your claim. As lawyers with over 50 years of combined experience, we’ve won more than $50 million on behalf of our clients.
As your personal injury firm in Georgia, we will take a personal approach to your case. With an emphasis on straightforward advice, personal service, and informed communication, we’re ready to advocate for you.
