Five Types of Evidence in a Kentucky Personal Injury Case
When a person suffers an injury because of the fault of another party, they can file a personal injury claim against the negligent party and recover financial compensation. In a Kentucky personal injury case, the plaintiff has the burden of proving negligence on the part of the defendant, and to prove negligence, you need evidence. Evidence is basically the most crucial part of a personal injury case because, without evidence, you cannot prove negligence and thus can’t recover compensation. But what counts as evidence in a Kentucky personal injury case?
There are several types of evidence in Kentucky personal injury cases. Below, we discuss five types of evidence in a Kentucky personal injury case.
#1: Physical Evidence
Physical evidence is one of the strongest types of evidence you can use in your Kentucky personal injury case. This type of evidence is tangible and compelling. Physical evidence can include various things, depending on your case. The following are some examples of physical evidence that can be used in a Kentucky personal injury case;
- A damaged car
- A defective product
- A broken piece of equipment
- Bloodied or torn clothing
- Skid marks
- Damaged personal property
- Drug paraphernalia
- Visible physical injuries
#2: Photographic Evidence
Pictures can help to prove a personal injury claim. Photos provide compelling evidence of how an incident occurred and the extent of the injuries. Pictures can even be used to reconstruct the incident. Depending on your case, the following are some of the photos that you can use to prove your claims;
- Pictures of safety hazards on a property
- Pictures of skid marks
- Pictures of damaged property
- Pictures of damaged vehicles
- Pictures of physical injuries
- Pictures of weather and road conditions
It is advisable that if, for example, you are involved in an auto accident, you take pictures at the accident scene immediately after your accident if your condition allows you to do so. Remember, accident scenes can be tampered with. If you are unable to take photographs immediately after an accident or incident, you can request someone to help.
#3: Documentary Evidence
Documentary evidence can help show how the incident occurred and the severity of your injury. One of the most crucial types of documentary evidence in a personal injury case is medical records. Medical records include, among others, medical bills, receipts, doctor notes, lab results, and diagnosis reports. Other important types of documentary evidence include;
- Police reports
- Incident or accident reports
- Repair bills or invoices
- Paycheck stubs
#4: Witness Testimony
Testimonies from people who witnessed the accident or incident are quite crucial. Witness testimony can help paint a clear picture of what happened. Apart from lay witnesses (people who testify based on what they saw or heard), expert witnesses are also often used in personal injury cases. Expert witnesses provide testimony based on their knowledge, skills, education, or experience in a particular field that is of concern in a case. Examples of expert witnesses include medical, economic, accident reconstruction, and vocational experts.
#5: Personal Narrative
Your personal narrative of what happened is also key to proving your Kentucky personal injury case. As soon as possible after the accident or incident, note down all that you remember and keep writing down details as you remember them.
Contact a London Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve suffered an injury in Kentucky because of another party’s negligence, contact a skilled London personal injury attorney at Cessna & George Law Firm. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
