What Evidence Can You Use to Prove Your Legal Rights After an Accident in Pennsylvania?

When you get injured in an accident in Pennsylvania, one of the first steps toward asserting your legal rights is gathering evidence of why the accident happened. Depending on the circumstances, there may be various forms of evidence available—including evidence that is available at the scene of the accident and evidence that is available from other sources.

To seek the full compensation you deserve, you also need evidence of your injury-related losses. This evidence can also take many forms, and it can also be available from a variety of different sources. Collecting all of the evidence you need isn’t easy—in fact, it can be extremely difficult—and this is one of several reasons why it is important to have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side.

What types of evidence can a personal injury lawyer use to prove your legal rights? While the answer to this question varies from case to case, here is a look at some of the most common types of evidence we use to seek just compensation for our clients:

Evidence of Why the Accident Happened

Video Footage of the Accident

If your accident was captured on video by a surveillance camera, traffic camera, cell phone camera or dash cam, the footage of your accident could be the clearest evidence of your right to just compensation. Video footage can be extremely strong evidence in personal injury cases, and our lawyers can seek to obtain footage from businesses, government agencies, witnesses and other parties through various means.

Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimony can be extremely strong evidence as well. If anyone saw what happened and can either (i) corroborate your version of the events or (ii) fill in the gaps as necessary, this could prove extremely helpful for establishing that you are entitled to financial compensation for your injury-related losses.

Photos and Videos from the Accident Scene

If you were able to take any photos or videos at the accident scene with your phone, you should be sure to keep these to share with your lawyer. Your lawyer can also seek to obtain photos and videos from eye witnesses, and your lawyer may hire an investigator to document the accident scene as well.

Forensic Evidence

Along with documenting the accident scene, an investigator will also be able to collect any forensic evidence that is available. In car accident cases, for example, this can include things like debris from the side of the road, evidence of traffic patterns and weather conditions, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.

Social Media Posts

If anyone posted about your accident on social media, your lawyer may be able to use the posts to help document your case and establish liability. In some cases, negligent drivers and other at-fault parties admit to being responsible on social media—not realizing that their posts can be used against them.

Receipts and Account Statements

Receipts and account statements can also be useful in many cases. For example, if you got hit by a drunk driver who had been out partying earlier in the evening, your lawyer may be able to obtain the drunk driver’s receipts or account statements to prove where and when he or she was drinking.

Employment Records and Other Corporate Documents

Employment records, maintenance records and various other corporate documents can also serve as evidence of liability. Employers in Pennsylvania are generally responsible for their employees’ actions within the scope of their employment; and, when companies (or individuals) fail to adequately maintain their vehicles or premises, this can justify liability claims as well.

Evidence of Your Injury-Related Losses

Medical Records and Bills

Your medical records and bills will be key evidence for demonstrating the cause, extent and costs of your injuries. After a car accident, slip and fall, or any other type of accident, seeing a doctor as soon as possible is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your legal rights.

Expert Medical Reports and Testimony

Expert medical reports and testimony can also help to establish the severity of your injuries and their long-term effects. This includes not only their long-term physical effects (i.e., pain, suffering and physical disabilities), but their long-term psychological effects (i.e., emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress) as well.

Receipts and Account Statements

If you have a personal injury claim, you are entitled to just compensation for all of your out-of-pocket costs (both now and in the future). Your lawyer can use your receipts and account statements to help document the total out-of-pocket costs of your injuries.

Employment Records

Accident victims in Pennsylvania are also entitled to just compensation for their loss of income and benefits. As a result, if your injuries limit your ability to work (or prevent you from working), your employment records will be important evidence in your personal injury case.

Our Clients’ Statements

In many cases, we encourage our clients to testify on their own behalf. While you never have to testify, doing so can help to paint a clear picture of how the accident has negatively impacted (and will continue to negatively impact) your daily life.

Statements from Friends and Family

Statements from friends and family can be powerful evidence as well. If you have friends or family members who can speak to the non-financial impacts of your injuries, this can help with placing an appropriate dollar value on your pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Photos and Videos Showing How Our Clients’ Lives Have Changed

Finally, we also use photos and videos to show how our clients’ lives have changed after their accidents. If this type of evidence could be helpful in your case, our team will assist with collecting the photos and videos we need to fight for just compensation on your behalf.

Were You Injured in an Accident? Contact Us for a Free Consultation

If you need to know more about filing a personal injury claim in Pennsylvania, we invite you to get in touch. To schedule an appointment with a lawyer at our offices in Allentown, Bethlehem, Doylestown, Easton or Stroudsburg, please call 888-777-7098 or request a free consultation online today.