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Organize Your Documents After An Accident

Seth Harris

Last modified on July 21, 2023

Documentation plays a crucial role in proving your injuries and financial losses in your personal injury case. When filing an injury claim, meticulous organizational skills are essential to ensure efficiency, save time, and achieve favorable outcomes.

It is imperative to obtain all your relevant documents, organize them well, and keep them readily accessible. A well-structured approach to documentation can significantly strengthen your case.

If a New York accident injured you, our attorneys want to help you build your strongest case from the very beginning. Here are some steps you can take before you call us.

What Kind of Documents Do I Need to Obtain and Organize?

Collecting and organizing the proper documentation is essential in any personal injury case to strengthen the claim and achieve a favorable outcome. Here are some types of documentation you should gather:

  • Accident Report – If the injury occurred in an auto accident, obtain an accident report from the local police department. Make sure to apply for it as soon as possible after the incident. If the accident occurred at work, try to obtain an incident report from your employer. And if the accident happened at a store or place of business other than your own, ask management for the incident report they took of the event.
  • Medical Records – Request medical records from all the providers that treated you after the accident. Additionally, gather medical records from your primary care doctor to compare your pre-accident health to the injuries the accident caused. Keep copies of medical bills, receipts, prescriptions, discharge information, and other relevant documents.
  • Lost Wages Documentation – Keep track of any time you missed at work and what that cost you. Try to obtain a letter from your employer stating your job description, pay rate, missed workdays, and total wage loss.
  • Written Communications from Any Insurer – If insurance is involved, it is best to talk with an attorney before speaking with an adjuster. If you’ve already communicated with insurance representatives, keep copies of all correspondence and write down your recollections of any in-person or phone conversations.
  • Photos of Injuries and Property Damage – Take pictures of your injuries and any property damage. Property damage documents may also include towing bills, repair estimates, and receipts for damaged personal items.
  • Witness Statements – Try to get the names and contact info of anyone who saw the incident occur. Their accounts of the accident could prove vital to corroborating your claim.

By meticulously organizing and preserving documents such as these, you can build a stronger case for yourself. Judges and juries love to see visual evidence.

What Are Some Useful Tips For Organizing Documents?

Effective record management will empower your attorney to seek the maximum compensation available on your behalf. Here are some tips to enhance your record-keeping skills:

  • Organize with File Boxes and Folders – Invest in a file box and create separate folders for each key area of your claim, such as property damage records, medical records and bills, photographs, communications, and other relevant documents. This systematic approach will make it easier to locate specific information later.
  • Promptly Update With New Information – File any documentation you recover or receive as soon as possible. Procrastination can lead to disorganization and the risk of losing or overlooking crucial evidence.
  • Maintain a Detailed Chronology – Keep a detailed timeline of events related to the accident and your injuries, including dates of medical appointments, treatments, interactions with insurance companies, and any other relevant milestones. A clear timeline will help track progress and recall essential details during discussions with your attorney.
  • Communication Records – Keep a log of all communication related to your claim, including emails, letters, and phone calls with insurance companies, healthcare providers, and other parties.
  • Digital Backup – Create digital copies and store them securely on a computer or cloud storage service.

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb Will Build A Strong Case

Obtaining and organizing your case-related documents is so important. And while the steps above can help you do some work independently, experienced personal injury attorneys like those with Harris Keenan & Goldfarb team can play a pivotal role in document collection and organization for your case.

Our attorneys help clients with the document process, minimizing the chance that anyone overlooks essential evidence. If a New York accident injured you, call Harris Keenan & Goldfarb for help. We stand ready to pick up where you leave off and zealously pursue your claim. Contact us at 1-800-PAIN-LAW or online for a free case evaluation.

Over $500 Million in Verdicts and Settlements

Our track record showcases over $500 million won for our clients. Each victory underlines our commitment to justice and client care. Explore our impact, case by case.

VERDICT

$17,500,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.

VERDICT

$4,730,398

Harris Keenan & Goldfarb partners Seth Harris and Sheri Holland obtained a $4,730,398.00 jury verdict on behalf of our client who tripped and fell at a private apartment building in the Bronx, suffering a broken foot that developed a very painful, permanent neurological condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (“RSD”).

VERDICT

$12,561,772

A Bronx jury awarded John Doe over $12 million for an accident on a construction site. John Doe was working when a piece of scaffold weighing 35 pounds fell, striking John Doe in the lower back. John Doe suffered a herniated disc requiring surgical removal of a portion of the disc and permanent nerve damage.

VERDICT

$10,500,000

A Bronx jury awarded $10.5 million to the mother of Malcolm Ferguson, who was wrongfully shot and killed by the New York City Police Department. The police officer, Louis Rivera, also a defendant in the case, was found to have used excessive force in violation of Malcolm Ferguson’s civil rights as protected under the United States Constitution.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff William Cardoza $4 million for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Mr. Cardoza was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly hit with a police nightstick. As a result, Mr. Cardoza sustained injuries to his hand and finger.

VERDICT

$3,470,670

The firm’s client, a 33-year-old teacher’s assistant, was scalded by an espresso machine that exploded while the defendant’s employee was demonstrating how the machine worked. The client was a customer at the defendant’s coffee shop on the date of the accident and suffered first-degree burns to her right (dominant) hand.

VERDICT

$4,000,000

The firm represented the mother- decedent and her infant son. During the decedent’s admission to the defendant hospital, the defendant dispensed anesthesia during an epidural to the decedent in an inadequate manner. The mother-decedent suffered personal injuries and wrongful death due to the defendant’s failure to properly administer epidural anesthesia.

VERDICT

$3,823,000

Mr.Brennan fell from approximately 25 feet while working on a construction project. He suffered a shattered bone in his right leg requiring surgery and hardware placement. Mr. Brennan also suffered two fractures in his facial bones, and a dislocated finger requiring surgical repair.

VERDICT

$2,750,000

The firm’s client was a child with cerebral palsy who was injured as a result of medical malpractice. The firm’s clients claimed improper management of pregnancy, labor, and delivery resulting in brain damage, and received a Brooklyn personal injury settlement.

VERDICT

$1,677,835

The firm’s client, a 63-year-old mentally incompetent man, slipped and fell in his own urine while attempting to walk to the bathroom at the defendant’s senior citizen home. The client fractured his hip and as a result is confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The client claimed that the staff of the home failed to properly care for him, and the jury awarded $1,677,835.

VERDICT

$2,995,000

The firm’s client, a 47-year-old male, slipped and fell on a public sidewalk in the Bronx. It had snowed four to five days prior to the date of the accident, and the sidewalk was covered with ice. The client suffered a lumbar fracture and a herniated disc. The jury found the city liable and awarded the client a $2,995,000 personal injury settlement in the Bronx.

VERDICT

$2,610,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Luis Molina $2.61 million for injuries sustained when he fell down a subway station stairway. Mr. Molina was caused to slip and fall as a result of a plastic bag that had blown onto the steps from a street opening. As a result of the fall, Mr. Molina suffered a herniated disc and a tear of his right shoulder’s rotator cuff. The jury found that the NYC Transit Authority was liable for the accident.

VERDICT

$2,253,714

A Bronx jury awarded Ms. Colon $2.25 million for a trip and fall accident. Ms. Colon was caused to fall when she moved to the right to allow another pedestrian to pass, and her foot rolled to the outside due to the sidewalk being unlevel with the adjoining grass. The jury found the defendant liable and awarded Ms. Colon $2,253,714.00 for her pain and suffering.

VERDICT

$1,900,000

A Brooklyn jury awarded Arvella Floyd $1.9 million for a fractured wrist which required multiple surgeries, including an open-reduction internal fixation and a carpal tunnel release. Ms. Floyd was injured when the hot water knob of the shower fell off after numerous complaints to the superintendent, and scalding water spewed toward her, causing her to
fall and break her wrist.

VERDICT

$1,350,000

A Bronx jury awarded plaintiff Juanita Young $1,350,000 for injuries caused by the use of excessive force during an arrest. During the arrest, Ms. Young, who is legally blind, was handcuffed from behind, with her children watching, and taken to the top of the stairs to exit the building. The officer proceeded to push her down the stairs multiple times.

What Our Clients Say About Us

david Santiagodavid Santiago
18:05 21 Mar 24
Maria RoqueMaria Roque
20:49 15 Mar 24
Excellent person, very Professional, they assist you in any language, your call is always answered. I recommend you for any case of support you have, your refund is satisfactory. and fast
S SS S
14:09 02 Mar 24
I am completely satisfied, and recommend Harris Keenan & Goldfarb as Attorneys to represent anyone. Their care for me physically, and overall helped me stay strong in spite of my injuries. Always available to answer questions, and inform.They got me Justice, and achieved a substantial outcome for my case.I am very impressed, and thankful for their outstanding performance on my behalf.I am very pleased, and significantly satisfied with their representation.‐-Sherylon Wilkins
Robert LennonRobert Lennon
15:26 21 Feb 24
Patient and diligence is how I describe the effort of HKG the work was thorough, honest and fair, I have no complaints. Special thanks to attorney Blake and his paralegal Thierry.
Gene Matos (fanboye)Gene Matos (fanboye)
18:48 15 Jan 24
I first crossed paths with Seth Harris when serving jury duty many years ago. He was so professional and personable, that when my mom was seeking legal counsel for medical malpractice, I told her she had to reach out to his firm. We had meetings with a few different firms, but Harris Keenan & Goldfarb was the only firm that did not try to get us to sign paperwork before even meeting. They took the time to listen and understand our situation before we signed anything, and they were transparent and responsive the whole time. I would like to give special thanks to Samantha Walton, Marla Stein, Val Wallace and Seth Harris for helping my mom through this tough time. They were honest and upfront, and even though Seth Harris wasn't personally on the case, he took the time to meet with us and give us his thoughts on it.
Solange IsaacSolange Isaac
17:52 08 Jan 24
I am pleased with the services provided by Ms Sheri on my case. The team at Harris, Keenan, & Goldfarb were very nice and explained everything to me. Everything that I had questions on they answered without frustration and were prompt and knowledgeable.6 years ago I had a slip and fall accident at my employers place of business. I reached out to them because I knew that I was being wrongfully treated. They took care of the case, restored my self confidence, and brought so much peace to my problem riddled life.I can recommend without a shadow of a doubt the services of Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb to anyone who is in need of someone who will have your back!
Brittany DempseyBrittany Dempsey
16:02 08 Jan 24
My mother had an accident with her ankle back in 2019. I immediately contacted Harris, Keenan & Goldfarb on the day of the accident. They were extremely prompt and helpful. They attended to my mother's case beautifully and she's been recovering well. I'd like to thank you for being so diligent, kind and above all professional. I'd recommend this law firm to anyone who are injured and in need of legal assistance. My mother, Andrea, and I thank you for everything.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions that prospective clients have about personal injury claims include:

  • Do I need an attorney?

    When you have suffered an injury, it can be difficult to know what to do next. If the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. However, filing a personal injury claim can be a complex and time-consuming process. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal system and fight for the maximum possible compensation.

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