Preserving Evidence is Important

Preserving Evidence

If you are injured, preserving the evidence associated with it can become very important.

The evidence which is helpful to your case can take many forms.

First there are any photographs of the accident location itself. This can include photographs of the cars, the intersections, skid marks, broken windows, air bags that deployed or anything else reflective of “how” the accident happened.

The second type of evidence you will want to secure relates to anything that occurred to you as a result of the accident. This can include photographs of bruising, stitches, a cast, a hospital room and its associated equipment, or anything that tells the stories of the injuries that were suffered. I have had clients whose spouse videotaped them as they were being wheeled into surgery. This is compelling evidence, because it captures the actual events that someone had to go through. A pair of broken eye glasses from the accident, or blood stained clothing should also be kept to be used as evidence.

Next you have the evidence that is associated with the economic losses that have been suffered. These not only include all the medical bills, but also things like the receipts for prescriptions, charges for parking in the parking lot, and pay stubs receipts to document wages that have been lost. You will also want to keep documentary evidence such as the police report, the estimate of the property damage, or things like the receipt for the airplane ticket you had purchased for the vacation which you were not able to go on.

Not all evidence can be preserved. Someone who falls in a stairwell due to insufficient lighting or an absence of the legally required hand rail will want to take photographs of the condition before the building owner can fix it. The fact that the building subsequently fixes a dangerous condition is usually not admissible into evidence because the courts do not want to discourage people from fixing a dangerous condition. Therefore photographs become very important.

If you are unable to take photographs, let us know and we can have one of our investigators go to the scene and take them. The photographs need to be taken as soon after the event as possible. Therefore, contact our office as soon as a situation arises where you have been hurt.

Keep Copies and Records of All Your Expenses

We will also want to know about any expenses that you incur as a result of an accident.

• This includes taxi receipts, lost wages, rental bills, prescription charges, or any other expense associated with your accident. We will want you to send us your receipts for these expenses. Those become part of your claim just like any other expense you have incurred.

Preserve Evidence in Your Possession

Save any physical objects that relate to your case.

• These include blood stained clothing, empty prescription bottles, traction devices, items involved in the accident, or other pieces of evidence.
• Let us know what you have.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, call attorney Bruce A. Blaylock. You can reach us at 301-951-1800, or toll free at 888-215-2968.