Not every injury you receive is your fault. Sometimes, someone else's negligent actions can result in you getting hurt. When this is the case, justice demands that you not be on the hook for the medical bills you are required to pay for the treatment required to help you recover. Laws exist to protect those who have been hurt by the negligent actions of another, but in order to receive the protection these laws provide, you need to do your part to make your case.
Witness Testimony
One way to back up your case is to get testimony from anyone who was present when you got hurt. Rather than try to speak to witnesses months after your injuries occurred, you need to collect statements as soon as possible before memories fade and details start to blend. This can be difficult to do if you are not trained in the art of gathering information with an interview, and especially difficult if you are laid up in a hospital bed. This is just one reason why it is important to hire a lawyer who is familiar with filing personal injury cases.
Evidence
What evidence is relevant to a case will depend on the type of injuries you received and how you received them. For example, if you leaned up against a railing, which then gave way and lead you to fall, you might want to gather paint samples to show that the paint was cracked and chipping off and wood samples to show that the wood had rotted. On the other hand, if you get injured in a boating accident, you would need much different evidence. As a layperson, it can be incredibly difficult to know what is irrelevant ephemera and what you need to hold onto to make your case. Again, it can be nice to have a lawyer on hand to sift through clutter and find evidence.
Medical Bills and other Financial Documents
If you can't quantify how much money you have lost due to your accident, you may not get the full amount of money you should. Doctor's bills, pay stubs from before and after your accident, and other financial documents will help to determine for how much money you can ask for in damages.
If you are at a loss for how to pursue a personal injury case, you need to know that you don't have to go it alone. Many lawyers will offer a free consultation to go over the facts of the case, and if you decide to hire them, they will not receive pay until you get a successful resolution to your case. Thus, it can't hurt to at the very least talk to a lawyer.
