PRESERVING EVIDENCE
Monday, January 30th, 2012Regardless of the kind of case you have, every lawsuit is the same in one way: The evidence must support your claim. This means that if you suspect you have a claim, you should take steps to preserve the evidence that could be critical in supporting your case.
It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and this is especially true in a lawsuit. If you have been hurt in a car accident, take photos of the car you were in, the scene, and, if possible, your injuries. Documents can also be evidence: Receipts, medical records, product instructions, accident reports, and the like can all be used to prove your claims.
Evidence is especially important in products liability cases, where someone is hurt by a defective product. Keep the product in the condition that it was in when the injury occurred and, if it is not in your possession (such as a car in a wrecker yard), take steps to secure it. There are reports of defendants trying to buy the defective product so that they can destroy it.
Sooner is better than later. A picture of the accident scene taken the day after a collision is worth more than one taken a year later. A picture of your bruises taken soon after you were injured will tell more than pictures of the same bruises once they have begun to heal.