If you are involved in an accident or injury in Colorado, preserving any physical evidence of the incident and your injuries can support your position in any legal claim you may decide to pursue. It is important to do this as soon as possible after the incident, because circumstances can change quickly: accident scenes can be altered, memory can become unreliable, and evidence can be overlooked or misplaced over time.
Though it may be the last thing on your mind right after a traumatic experience, collecting and preserving evidence of your personal injury could be very beneficial should you decide to pursue legal action. Your attorney will be able to use the evidence you collect to help. If you are unable to collect evidence yourself, ask a friend or a loved one to do so for you! Preserving evidence of your accident or injury is one of the most important things you can do to protect your rights.
The first step to take in protecting evidence of your injury is to make sure that physical items are preserved, including torn clothing, broken equipment, and any documents. Here are some steps to take after some common injuries:
Auto Accidents: After a car accident, take photos of the scene, your injuries, and any property damage. In addition, get copies of all medical records pertaining to your treatment after the accident, keep copies of property damage estimates and repairs records, and obtain a copy of any police report that is made.
Defective Consumer Products: If you are injured by a faulty product, be sure to preserve the product in the same condition that it was in when the incident occurred. Keep all written instructions, warnings, labels, and packaging that accompanied the item. If you can, try to locate the original sales receipt for the item. If you cannot find the receipt in your own personal records, ask the seller if they have a copy.
Medical Malpractice: In a medical malpractice or birth injury case, keep or obtain copies of all medical records that pertain to the medical treatment at issue, as well as those related to any second or third opinions obtained from other health care providers. Also, in cases where a physical injury is visible, be sure to take photos that depict any evidence of potentially improper medical treatment.
Take Pictures! Remember that preserving physical evidence itself may not always be possible in every case involving an accident or injury. In these situations, your best option is to take clear and detailed photographs of the area where the injury occurred, from multiple angles, and ideally under the same conditions.
Should I Contact An Attorney? If you’ve been injured as the result of someone else’s carelessness in Colorado should contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can protect your rights and get you the fair compensation that you deserve. Get treatment for your injuries, collect evidence, take pictures, and contact a Colorado personal injury attorney right away.
