At Harris Fowler Solicitors, we understand that suffering a personal injury can be a distressing experience. While your health and recovery are the priority, it’s also important to gather appropriate evidence as early as possible following your accident to support your claim. Strong evidence can significantly improve the chances of a successful outcome and help ensure you receive compensation. Below, we outline the key types of evidence we recommend you gather or retain.
Accident Details
As soon as you’re able to, we recommend you create a detailed written account of occurred during your accident. Important things to include are:
- Date, time and location of the incident
- A clear description of how the accident occurred
- Any hazards or contributing factors (e.g., wet floors, faulty equipment, lack of warning signs)
- Names and contact details of any witnesses
It is essential that you do this as soon as you can whilst the incident is fresh in your memory so you can provide an accurate account of the events that took place.
Photographic and Video Evidence
Visual evidence can be very powerful. If possible, take photographs or videos of:
- The scene of the accident (ideally before it’s cleaned or repaired)
- Any hazards or conditions that contributed to the incident
- Your injuries at various stages (immediately after the accident and as they heal)
- Damage to personal belongings, if relevant
These images provide clear, time-stamped records to support your version of events. If you have suffered an accident on a public road or footpath it is essential that you obtain photographs of the accident area and measurements of any defects in the road of footpath.
Medical Evidence
Medical documentation is essential in any personal injury claim and it can be extremely helpful if you are able to provide copies of your medical records when you are looking to pursue a claim. If you have been involved in an accident that you could potentially make a claim for it is essential that you:
- Seek medical attention immediately, even for minor injuries
- Keep a record of all medical appointments, diagnoses, treatments, and medications
- Ask for copies of medical records, hospital discharge summaries, and specialist reports
- Note any ongoing symptoms or limitations, especially if they affect your ability to work or carry out daily activities
As a part of the claims process we may appoint medical experts to assess your injuries and it is vital that they are provided with accurate medical records prior to their assessments being completed.
Witness Statements
If anyone saw the accident that you were involved in their account can help verify your version of events, Especially if the involved party does not accept liability for your accident. If there were any witnesses please try to:
- Collect full names, contact information, and a brief summary of what they observed.
- Where possible, obtain written statements from witnesses if they are happy to provide this for you.
Financial and Other Losses
Your claim may include compensation for out-of-pocket expenses and loss of earnings. It is important that you track any financial losses that you may suffer from as a result of your accident so we can ensure you are compensated correctly. It is important that you keep track of:
- Receipts or invoices for medical costs such as pain prescription medication, travel costs to appointments, or additional items such as supports or bandages if you are required to cover the cost of these out of your own pocket
- Payslips and records showing loss of earnings if time off work was needed
Official Reports or Records
Depending on the nature of your accident, there may be additional documentation that you are able to provide such as:
- Accident reports from an employer, business, or local authority
- Police reports, if the incident involved a crime or traffic accident
- CCTV footage, if the incident occurred in a public or monitored space
We can assist in requesting this evidence from the relevant bodies if you are having difficulty obtaining these yourself.
Final Note
If you have not been able to obtain parts of the information above following your accident please do not let this deter you from getting in touch. Our experienced team or experts at Harris Fowler will guide you through the process, help gather any missing evidence, and liaise with third parties on your behalf. If you have any questions or would like to speak to your solicitor directly, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 0800 213 214
