The evidence needed for a personal injury claim must be able to establish how you were hurt as a direct consequence of a third party’s negligent actions (or inactions). Any evidence you need will be unique to your specific circumstances, but it typically includes medical records, accident reports, and financial documents.

It’s also important to note that the more evidence you collect, the greater chance our solicitors have at settling the claim in your favour.

Please see the following examples of evidence needed for a personal injury claim:

Medical Evidence

Having medical evidence can prove the nature and severity of your injuries, the prognosis for recovery, and any day-to-day impact on quality of life. Your medical records may detail past and present conditions, treatments, scans and medications.

As such, any medical help you sought for your injuries following an accident will be detailed in your records. Your medical records can be requested by contacting your GP.

If you’re connected with one of our experienced solicitors, they can also arrange a medical assessment with an independent expert. This can confirm your injuries, and the findings of the report can be used to support your claim.

Accident Reports

An accident report can detail the circumstances of your injuries and how you were hurt. Typically, employers with 10 or more staff are required to keep an accident book to record any workplace accidents. If one exists, you can request a copy of your incident report by speaking with your employer.

Public places, such as restaurants, supermarkets and cafes, will also have accident report books that detail any injuries to customers and members of the public.

Visual Evidence

Photographs and video recordings can be used as visual evidence to document the scene of an accident, detail injuries, and establish the circumstances of the incident. For personal injury claims, before-and-after photographs are an effective way to highlight the extent and severity of someone’s harm. They can also point out the cause of an accident, such as a poorly maintained staircase or uneven pavement slabs.

CCTV or dashcam footage may capture the accident itself and provide an objective viewpoint of what happened. You have a legal right to request any CCTV footage of yourself.

Witness Contact Information

Up-to-date witness contact information is important, as these details can be passed on to a solicitor for them to gather support testimony for a claim. These statements could recount what happened, confirm that a third party acted negligently, and outline how your injuries have impacted your day-to-day life. 

Generally, witnesses may include family, friends, colleagues, pedestrians, and passengers. Essentially, anyone who saw what happened can potentially be a witness.

Financial Evidence

If you incurred out-of-pocket expenses as a result of your injuries, then financial evidence can allow you to claim compensation for these costs. For instance, you may have lost earnings after suffering a head injury that meant you were no longer able to perform your job. This might also have required you to pay for physiotherapy, home adaptations, and professional care. In this instance, you could use receipts, invoices, payslips, and bank statements to prove how you were financially impacted and seek compensation under special damages.