A critical task when pursuing a personal injury claim in North Georgia is documenting evidence. As previously discussed, establishing liability and demonstrating the extent of your injuries is crucial. And collecting and preserving evidence will significantly strengthen your case.
In this post, Pritchard Injury Firm will detail the types of evidence you can use and methods for gathering evidence to maximize your chances of success during a personal injury suit in North Georgia civil courts.
Leveraging Digitization
Digital evidence plays a vital role in proving the extent of your injuries in a personal injury claim. Career development site Zippia estimates that approximately 270 million Americans own a smartphone as of April 2023. And the average American spends more than five hours on their mobile device each day. So it is highly likely witnesses near an accident scene in North Georgia will have a phone. Following an accident, the audio and visual data collected by you, the defendant, and witnesses will be incredibly useful for your during discovery and hearings. Ask witnesses to send any footage they might have to police on the scene.
Beyond photographing, check your apps. Exercise apps, for example, capture and store evidence since they have a tracking capability. Even if specialized apps are not activated, the phone, pad, computer, or vehicle can monitoring movement and geographic locations. Smartphones, GPS systems, black boxes, and other devices might contain or provide access to information about what happened before, during, and after a collision.
Proving the Extent of Injuries
No matter the immediacy of your pain and suffering, see a doctor and get examined for short- and long-term injuries. Keep detailed records of medical appointments, diagnostic test results, treatment plans, and invoices for medical expenses. These records establish a clear link between the accident and your injuries during a personal injury claim in North Georgia.
Documented evidence serves as a protective measure against disputes and challenges from the defense in a personal injury claim in North Georgia. Insurance companies and defense attorneys may attempt to question the validity or severity of your injuries. By meticulously documenting your injuries, treatment, and progress, your North Georgia injury lawyer can effectively counter these challenges and present an accurate representation of the accident's impact.
Preserving Evidence
Another reason preserving and digitizing evidence is crucial in a personal injury claim in North Georgia is because tangible evidence (such as paper statements and clothes) may deteriorate or become unavailable over time.
All pictures, video, and audio of the scene or accident, as well as images of your own injuries, should be uploaded to a secure cloud-based storage site (such as Google Drive or Dropbox). If all else fails, write down the sequence of events as they happened to you and then email it to yourself or save to a cloud.
Paper evidence will follow, as well, since correspondence for legal matters are typically still sent via traditional mail. This could include police reports, medical records, and any insurance records.
Proper preservation ensures the availability and integrity of the evidence throughout your claim, thus enhancing the chances of obtaining fair compensation. Consult with a knowledgeable North Georgia personal injury attorney who understands local laws and can guide you through the process.
Zach Pritchard: Your Personal Injury Attorney in North Georgia
If you or a loved one were injured in any circumstance, from a car accident or fall to a burn or dog bite, experienced attorneys at Pritchard Injury Firm can help. Contact us online for compassionate legal guidance that will help you get the compensation you need to recover and move forward.