Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC > Blog > Personal Injury > Personal Injury Case Checklist

If you suffered an injury due to someone else’s wrongdoing, you might be considering filing a lawsuit to seek compensation. To win your case, you must have strong evidence to support your claims. To help you build a strong case, we have made a personal injury case checklist that outlines the evidence you should gather, including documentation, witness testimony, medical records, and more.

Documents and Evidence You Need to Build a Strong Personal Injury Claim

Police Report

The first step in building a successful personal injury case is to obtain a police report that accurately describes the circumstances surrounding the incident. It should include information about the place and time of the accident, the conditions of the road or area, any people involved in the incident, and any traffic violations that occurred. The police report will also describe the damage caused to vehicles and property and any eyewitness accounts of the accident.

Accident Report

In some cases, no police report may be available. In slip-and-fall accidents and other accidents that don’t occur on the roadways, an accident report should have been made by the property owner or manager at the time of the accident. If you didn’t take a copy of the report with you after the accident, you should obtain one as you build your case.

Photographs of the Scene

Photographs of the scene of an accident can be significant evidence in a personal injury case. These photographs can provide proof of the accident’s severity, such as skid marks or damage to property. Additionally, they can help prove that a certain event occurred and back up witness accounts of what happened.

Photographs of Injuries

If you were involved in an accident or incident, it is important to document your injuries as soon as possible after they occur. You should take photographs of your injuries from multiple angles, both up close and from a distance. They should include pictures of bruises, scrapes, burns, or any other physical damage resulting from the incident. Additionally, if you had to wear a cast or use crutches after the incident, take pictures of those items as well.

Witness Statements

Witness statements are often a crucial component in winning a personal injury case, which is why it’s a must to include them in your personal injury case checklist when possible. A witness must have had direct knowledge of the incident in question and be able to describe the events clearly. If the witness can describe the involved parties or vehicles present at the accident, it’s helpful. Furthermore, their account should include specific details that help to establish a timeline and help prove negligence.

Medical Records

Medical records are essential for a personal injury case because they provide valuable information about the severity and extent of an injury or illness. They can show that you received treatment immediately after the accident. Medical records may include things like doctor’s notes, hospital reports, lab results, imaging scans, X-rays, and even prescriptions.

Expert Testimony

Highly trained professionals with experience in a particular field related to the case serve as expert witnesses. They usually provide an expert opinion or explain complex technical issues that may be in dispute. Expert testimony can also provide insight into how the injury occurred, the recommended treatment, and the long-term impact the injury may have.

How to Get a Lawyer to Take Your Case

If you suffered injuries due to another person’s wrongdoing, you should consider seeking legal representation as soon as possible. Personal injury cases can be complex, and having a lawyer on your side can take the burden of figuring out the law off your shoulders.

The best way to find a lawyer is to do your research. Search online for personal injury lawyers and read about their credentials, experience, and reviews. Once you’ve identified a few potential candidates, contact them to set up an initial consultation. During the consultation, ask the lawyer about their experience with similar cases and whether they think you have a case.

Prepare for the consultation by gathering the necessary evidence, including photos, witness statements, medical records, police reports, and other documents that could help prove your case. Having a personal injury checklist and these documents organized and ready to go will help the lawyer better understand your case and provide you with an accurate assessment.

About Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC

Our attorneys have decades of experience with various types of personal injury cases, including nursing home abuse cases, car accidents, premises and product liability cases, and medical malpractice.

Furthermore, we are experienced trial lawyers, meaning we are prepared to take your case to trial, if necessary, to get you the result you deserve.

We have won hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our past clients and have a reputation for empathy and professionalism.

Speak With a Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer

Having an experienced lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. We can guide you in completing your personal injury checklist, to ensure you have a strong case. At Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC, our Chicago personal injury lawyers are dedicated to holding negligent parties accountable and restoring justice for injured victims.

For a confidential legal consultation, call us today at 312-346-8620 or contact us online.

Read more:

Written by Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC Last Updated : September 25, 2023

Categories

TESTIMONIALS

I was involved in a car accident and was referred to this office. Nick Drury was the attorney who handled my case and he was nothing short of phenomenal. Personable, professional, took the time and answered my questions, accessible, very responsive via email. He also advised as to what would be in my best interest and negotiated very well on my behalf. What was an additional plus is he resolved my case promptly. Thank you Nick- I highly recommend him for anyone who is need of a personal injury attorney!

- Oralia Castaneda

★★★★★

Jonathan was amazing. He communicated very well, he was always looking out for my best interest. He was easy to talk to and very thorough with my case and I was elated and blessed to have a lawyer such as Jonathan by my side. I would highly recommend him! Even after the case was settled he still contacted me to follow up and check it with me. He is someone who really cares about his clients and treated me as a person not just a case #. Thank you for everything Jonathan!

- Keena

★★★★★

It was not only comforting to have skilled, knowledgeable and experienced attorneys and staff during one of the most difficult times of my life, but to be supported by people who had my best interest at heart and genuinely cared about me and my personal feelings made all the difference in the world. I walked in as a client and was cared for by a family, and for that I’ll be forever grateful! H. B.

- H.B.

★★★★★

Dear J.B. , I wanted to thank you, for the job you did on my case. You were not only an excellent lawyer, you were a friend along the way as well. You always promptly called me, addressing my questions and concerns. As far as my settlement goes, I couldn’t have expected more then you got for me. Many lawyers “brag” , about the amount of settlements they get for their clients, on their T.V. commercials . You, got me more then these lawyers “brag” about. Thank you for getting me such a strong settlement, and being a friend as well, along the way. I’d be more then happy to talk to anyone who would like to know , what a fine attorney you are. Thank you for being there for me. Sincerely,

- J.F.

★★★★★

Over the past couple of years I have had the privilege of Mr.Jonathan Fleisher representing me for a personal injury case that has greatly impacted my life. Mr. Fleisher fought hard and diligently on my behalf and always kept my best interests in mind. It has been truly refreshing as well as a blessing to have someone this skillful and professional buckling down and making sure every detail is captured to support my case. He has delivered exceptional service and I would recommend him to anyone that needs a personal injury attorney.

- G.B.

★★★★★

Jonathan Fleisher was more than just my lawyer. He was my advocate and was very thorough with my case. Communication was well furnished which made for an easy process. Mr. Fleisher fought for my rights and did so justly with much empathy and compassion. I am more than elated with the outcome and how my case was handled by Mr. Fleisher. I would highly recommend him to friends , family or anyone who wants someone who will work diligently on their case. I appreciate and am very thankful for Mr. Jonathan Fleisher

- K.T.

★★★★★

Thank you so much for your diligent, professional, and thorough handling of my car accident settlement. You were beyond helpful, accommodating, and supportive during the process. You patiently explained, in detail, the procedures that would take place during the course of the claim. You continually updated me as progress was made and gave me in-depth details. Being that I was a novice to this type of practice, you advised me as to what was realistic, yet fair, as far as when, how, and monetarily the claim would be settled. When an offer was made, you advised me accordingly, and counter-offered for what you believed to be a reasonable and objective settlement. Beyond that, you also worked determinedly to reduce my medical claims and had great success. An attorney friend of mine went as far to say that you “hit a home run” when you negotiated my settlement. I want you to know how much your guidance and attentiveness to my claim meant to me. I will definitely recommend you and your firm should any of my acquaintances need legal advice in the future.

- J.W.

★★★★★

To Karlin, Fleisher & Falkenberg, LLC Please accept my sincere appreciation for the services your agency provided to me and my family on the Jessie Palmer wrongful death cases. There were so many issues that needed to be resolved, and with your assistance we were able to finally get the diagnosis report printed. My stepdaughters asked me to thank you as well for the settlements they received from their father's estate. We humbly appreciate the wonderful job your firm did with our case. In the future we will refer family and friends to your agency.

- L.P.

★★★★★