Evidence Preservation and Witness Statements...

Proper evidence preservation and obtaining witness statements can really boost your chances of a good personal injury settlement offer. The more evidence you have to back up your claim, the more likely you'll be offered a fair settlement.

Some of the best evidence is accident photographs. We've already looked at taking auto accident photos, but there are a few other things you should be taking pictures of.

Any bruising, scarring or other visible injuries should be photographed. Despite the fact that you have medical records explaining your injuries, these photos are important.

Any adjuster knows that if they don't reach a settlement, the photos will play a dramatic role in court. Photographing physical evidence is one of the best methods of evidence preservation. It's also a good idea to keep any physical evidence you can.

In a bicycle car accident where the bike is mangled beyond repair, keep it. Also keep the clothing you were wearing, especially if it was torn, damaged or blood-stained from the accident.

Witnesses are a valuable form of evidence - when they're on your side. Collect as many witness statements as you can to back up your side of the story.

The idea of all evidence is to show that your case is stronger than just your word alone. The more people saying the same thing you've said, the better your chances are of proving your story is accurate.

Get your witness statements in writing. You'll eventually show them to the insurance adjuster. These statements may help bring your settlement from the negotiation stage, to the offer stage.

Circumstantial evidence can also be important. It can sometimes be hard to come by, but it will strengthen your case. This is evidence that allows you to infer something, but not prove it.

For instance, a bad driving record doesn't prove someone was negligent in the accident, but it suggests that possibility. Showing that the other driver was using a cell phone at the time of the accident is another good piece of circumstantial evidence.

Whenever possible, you should return to the scene of the accident. You might notice things you hadn't seen before that can help you reach a settlement.

Maybe you'll spot a leak that caused the slippery floor, or you'll find an object that was blocking your view of a stop sign. Whatever you find, be sure you do proper evidence preservation, then let the adjuster know you have it.