3 min read · Last reviewed 2026-09-01
Start with what already exists
Most of these arrive without being requested; keeping them together saves weeks later.
- Police or incident report and report number
- Photographs and video from the scene
- Emergency room and follow-up records, and discharge instructions
- Every medical bill and explanation of benefits
- Your auto policy declarations page
- Correspondence from any insurer
- Proof of income and any documentation of missed work
Keep a short daily note
A few lines a day about pain, limitations and missed activities is more persuasive months later than a reconstructed memory.
Sources
This guide is general legal information, not legal advice, and laws change. Talk to an attorney about your own situation.