If you have been injured and are preparing to file an insurance claim or a lawsuit, you should meet with a personal injury lawyer Toronto to discuss preparations. Most likely you will need to gather several types of support that document your injury and resulting losses. Here are five potential sources to consider for your personal injury claim.

1. Police report.

Your attorney will likely require this and possibly other records as well, and may obtain them for you. However, it is a good idea to get your own copy to have for personal reference as your case develops. The accident report will objectively state the facts pertaining to a motor vehicle accident, if that is the source of your injuries. There is no charge for a public police report.

2. Hospital records.

Many injured people visit the Emergency Room for evaluation. They also may be admitted to the hospital if their injuries are serious. Several kinds of tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI, may be performed at a hospital. These and similar hospital records can be requested by the attorney with the patient’s signed Release. Medical documentation of an injury and its treatment are valuable artifacts that support an injury claim. Although copies of hospital records must be paid for, they are not hugely expensive, and many personal injury attorneys will cover the cost up front.

3. Doctor’s notes.

A doctor’s notes are usually part of the patient’s file. The doctor typically dictates office visit notes or call-in questions by the patient. Sometimes email and text records become part of the patient file, as well. You should ask your doctor about a copy of your file as it pertains to the injury that is the basis of a claim. However, keep in mind that the opposing counsel may request patient records from before and after the accident for comparison.

4. Employer records.

Employment records can substantiate the facts of a patient’s absenteeism, with a doctor’s order or note, as evidence that the employee needed time off from work due to the accident-based injury. Any additional work-related information that may be helpful in supporting the medical claim may likewise be requested.

5. Objective witness statements.

Although statements by family members and friends may be considered subjective and unhelpful by opposing counsel, objective statements by coworkers, neighbors, or other persons who may be able to offer information about the effect of your injuries might help. Make a list of anyone who has observed you before and since the accident to see if any can provide a meaningful statement about changes in your health.

A thoughtful, comprehensive survey of possible source information may lead to added support in your case.