Has your car accident left you seriously injured? If so, then you know the ripple effects that one of these wrecks can have. While you struggle to cope with newfound physical pain, your mobility may be limited, and your mental well-being can be negatively impacted on account of your limitations and financial strain. And those money woes can be significant, too, leaving you without the ability to work and earn a wage, which, in turn, can leave you without the resources you need to make ends meet let alone advance your recovery.
But if you’ve found your way to our blog, you’re probably thinking about taking legal action against the party who caused your accident. In order to win one of these cases, you’re going to have to show both that the other driver caused your accident and thus your injuries as well as the extent of your damages. This week, we want to briefly touch on what you can do to start building your case for damages.
How do you prove your car accident damages?
There are several steps that you can take to start building your damages claim. Let’s look at some of them here:
- Gather medical records: This documentation will show the treatment that you’ve already received along with how much it ended up costing you. This will not only help show the medical expenses that you’ve already incurred but it can also help lay the foundation for your expected medical expenses by providing your prognosis.
- Employment records: Lost wages is another key aspect of your damages. By gathering your pay stubs and even tax records, you’ll be better able to demonstrate what you’ve historically made and; therefore, what you would’ve made if you hadn’t been injured.
- Talk to medical professionals: Remember, if you win your personal injury case, you’ll be able to recover compensation for your anticipated damages, too. This includes your future medical care tied to your accident injuries. To prove these expected damages, you may need expert testimony from a medical professional. That’s why it’s helpful to talk to medical professionals early on who can give you a clear indication of what your treatment and recovery will look like going forward. That way, you can paint a clearer picture for the judge and jury.
- Talk to an employment professional: Your accident injuries might’ve also impacted your ability to return to work or advance in your career. This means that your future wages and earnings capacity may be significantly diminished. You might be able to recover these losses, but only if you can prove them. That’s why you might find it helpful to have testimony from an expert in your field of employment who can speak to the impact your injuries will have on your career.
- Keep a journal: Your non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life, can redefine your quality of life. You should be compensated for any harm caused here, but these are difficult damages to prove. By keeping a journal of how your life has changed, you can paint a compelling picture that may better position you to recover the damages that you’re owed here.
Know how to build a persuasive legal claim
There’s a lot to navigate when you’re dealing with a personal injury claim. And improperly handling any aspect of your case could lead to a disastrous outcome. That’s why you want to be as comprehensive, aggressive and persuasive as possible when you build your case.
If that sounds daunting, don’t worry. Experienced legal professionals who are adept at navigating personal injury cases are here to help you build your case.
