Being involved in a car accident can result in serious injuries. On top of that, it can cause a lot of stress. The last thing you may want to do is enter litigation.
Fortunately, there are other options in terms of pursuing compensation, such as personal injury mediation. While this is still a legal process, it is far less formal and stressful than going through the courts.
Mediation is designed to facilitate conversations, so that all parties can leave with a fair settlement. Nonetheless, you will still need to provide evidence. Here are a few things that you’ll need.
Evidence from the scene
To negotiate effectively, you’ll need to be armed with as much evidence as possible from the scene. This includes a note of the precise time that the crash happened, as well as the location. You may want to take photos of the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles. Also, taking photographs of your injuries can be very helpful.
If you have a dashcam, then be sure to store all of the footage from that day and ensure that it can be downloaded in an accessible format. Of course, your safety comes first, so only gather photographic and video evidence if it is safe to do so.
If you haven’t managed to gather photographic and video evidence, then it’s not the end of the world. If law enforcement attended, then they should have written down a record of their version of events, which can be very useful. Your legal team may also be able to identify witnesses who saw what happened.
Evidence of your injuries
To maximize your settlement, it’s also important to have evidence of your injuries. This can include a record of your doctor and hospital appointments, copies of your scans and treatment plans. Keep any invoices related to injuries after the accident.
While mediation is less formal than the court, you still need evidence. Having legal guidance on your side will help to make the process as stress-free as possible.