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If you've suffered from an accident and are in the process of building a personal injury case, it's important to understand what kinds of evidence can be used. Below are four of the most common types of evidence used in personal injury cases and how they can help you. 

Photographs from the Scene of the Accident 

Whether you've been in an auto accident or are dealing with a trip and fall case, photographs from the accident scene can prove useful during the investigation and trial. 

Even if the photograph isn't taken immediately following the accident, it can still prove as a useful look into the conditions of the area. If you were involved in a car accident that occurred on a Tuesday at 4 PM, returning to the scene the following week at the same time and taking photographs can inform your lawyer and others involved in the case of regular traffic conditions, as well as other conditions which may have contributed, such as a strong sun glare around a corner. This can help to show the other driver's fault, or it can show your complete non-fault in the accident.  

Eyewitness Testimony 

While locating witnesses after the accident can be difficult, it can be a vital part of your case. 

It's generally a good idea to collect eyewitness contact information immediately following an accident, but it's not always possible. If you were in a car accident but too disoriented to get contact info from possible witnesses, taking a look at the police report may be one way to get that information. An eyewitness didn't have to directly see the accident either – they can also serve as a witness to your injuries following the accident or general health prior to it. 

Police Reports 

While not all accident cases will have police reports on hand, they can give your attorney a glimpse into the accident scene. 

If you fell down the stairs at a friend's house, it's likely that the police were not involved. If you were in an auto accident, however, calling the police is usually a good way to document the accident scene, get immediate eyewitness testimony, and ensure the exchange of information between you and the other driver. The police report will also provide your attorney with a non-biased look into the accident and gives them a chance to see both sides. 

Documented Injuries

If you've been in an accident of any kind but want to brush off your injuries, think again. 

The documentation of your injuries related to the accident can play a large role in the settlement amount you receive. If you suffer from whiplash, for example, but it's not documented by a visit to a hospital or doctor's office following the accident, there's no way for anyone to be sure the whiplash was caused by that particular accident. Without proper documentation, there's no way to prove the injury wasn't there prior to the accident or that the accident directly caused it. 

Evidence is an important part of personal injury cases, especially since many of them are simply he-said-she-said situations. To learn more about what constitutes evidence and how having it can help your case, consult with your personal injury lawyers, like those at Wolfley & Wolfley, P.S..