What Documents Should You Keep After an Accident in Pennsylvania?

If you were injured in an accident and may have a personal injury claim, it will be important for you to keep as much documentation as possible. Documentation is key not only for proving that you have a claim, but also for proving how much you are entitled to recover.

You will need various forms of documentation to file a successful personal injury claim. When you hire a lawyer to represent you, your lawyer will help make sure you have all of the documentation you need. But, in the meantime, it will be helpful for you to start gathering what you can, as your lawyer will be relying on the information you provide to assess your legal rights during your free initial consultation.

10 Important Documents to Collect (if Possible) When You Have a Personal Injury Claim in Pennsylvania

What are the documents you should try to collect? While different types of documentation will be available in different circumstances, here are 10 types of documents you should collect if possible:

1. Police Report or Accident Report

If you were injured in a car accident and the police responded to the scene of the accident, the responding officer should have prepared a police report. If you received a copy of the police report, you should be sure to keep it in a safe place to share with your lawyer.

If you were injured in a slip-and-fall or any other type of premises-related accident at a business in Pennsylvania, the business may have prepared an accident report. If you received a copy of an accident report, you should keep this to share with your lawyer as well.

2. Insurance Documentation

In the vast majority of cases, filing a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania involves dealing with the insurance companies. With this in mind, if you have the other driver’s or the business’s insurance information, you should keep this safe, too. If you were injured in a car accident, your auto insurance may also apply, and now is a good time to locate your policy and make sure you know what coverage you have available.

3. Your Own Notes About the Accident

When you get injured in any type of accident, taking notes as soon as possible can preserve key details that you might forget otherwise. With this in mind, you should take detailed notes, and you should bring these with you to your free initial consultation.

4. Medical Records

Filing a personal injury claim requires proof that you were injured in your accident. This proof will come in the form of your medical records. If you haven’t done so already, you should seek a diagnosis and treatment right away, and you should be sure to ask for copies of your scans, test results and any other medical documentation.

5. Medical Bills and Receipts

Along with keeping your medical records, you should also keep your medical bills and receipts. If you have a personal injury claim, you are entitled to recover all of the costs of your injuries—including costs you have already covered and costs you cannot afford to cover on your own. If you suffered serious injuries in your accident, your medical bills will account for a significant portion of your claim.

6. Receipts for Other Purchases

While your medical bills may account for a significant portion of your claim, accident-related injuries can lead to a variety of other costs as well—and these are also costs that you may be entitled to recover. From transportation costs to prescriptions, bandages and other medical supplies, you should do your best to keep track of all of the costs you incur as a result of your accident.

7. Pay Stubs or Other Proof of Income

If your injuries prevent you from working, your lawyer will also be able to seek just compensation for your loss of income. But, here too, you need proof of the losses you are entitled to recover. With this in mind, you should try to collect your recent pay stubs (to show how much you were earning before your accident), and you should be sure to keep any future pay stubs showing time you miss from work. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor and you don’t receive pay stubs, any other proof of income will suffice.

8. Letters and Emails from the Insurance Companies

As you work through the recovery process, you may receive letters or emails from the insurance companies. If you do, you should also be sure to keep these to give to your personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can review these communications and respond appropriately on your behalf; and, if they serve as evidence of insurance bad faith, your lawyer may be able to use them to seek additional damages.

9. Repair Estimates and Bills

If you need to seek just compensation for injuries you sustained in a car accident, you will also need to seek just compensation for the cost of repairing your damaged vehicle. Once you get an estimate for the cost of repairing your vehicle, you should keep this and any bills you receive during the repair process.

10. Any Other Documents Related to Your Accident

When you have a personal injury claim, any documentation of the cause of the accident or the costs of your injuries can assist with proving your legal rights. With this in mind, if you receive any other documents that you believe may be helpful for your claim, you should be sure to keep these to review with your lawyer during your free initial consultation as well.

Discuss Your Case with a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Lawyer for Free

While collecting these documents (if possible) is important, it is even more important that you speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. With offices in Allentown, Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton and Stroudsburg, we handle all types of personal injury cases throughout Pennsylvania. To discuss your case with an experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer for free, call 888-777-7098 or tell us how we can reach you online now.