Claim preparation resource

Accident evidence checklist for injury claims

The best evidence is usually the evidence you save before anyone realizes it matters. Use this checklist to organize proof before photos disappear, witnesses move on, or insurers narrow the story.

Review evidence with us Before a recorded statement

Step 1

Day 1: Save scene photos, police information, witness names, insurance details, and first symptoms in one folder.

Step 2

Days 2-3: Get medical care, keep discharge paperwork, and write down every provider and referral.

Step 3

Days 4-5: Request the police report, organize repair estimates, and save all insurer messages.

Step 4

Days 6-7: Build a short timeline and list the questions you need answered before any recorded statement or settlement discussion.

Evidence categories

What to save and why it matters

Do not wait for a claim dispute to organize proof. Each category below answers a different question: what happened, who saw it, what changed medically, what the insurer said, and how the injury affected real life.

Scene proof

Capture conditions before vehicles move, hazards are cleaned, or witnesses leave.

Wide photos of the full scene from each direction of travel

Close photos of vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, hazards, and traffic controls

Street signs, business names, mile markers, parking lot rows, or GPS location screenshots

Weather, lighting, construction, road condition, and visibility notes

People and witness proof

Preserve the people who can verify what happened and how the injury affected you.

Names, phone numbers, and emails for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and witnesses

Responding officer name, agency, badge number, and report number

Employer contact for missed work or schedule disruption

Names of family members or caregivers who saw symptoms after the accident

Medical proof

Connect symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and limitations to the accident timeline.

Emergency room, urgent care, primary care, specialist, therapy, and imaging records

Medication lists, referrals, discharge instructions, and work restriction notes

Pain journal entries with dates, symptoms, sleep disruption, and daily limitations

Bills, explanation-of-benefits letters, and out-of-pocket receipts

Insurance and claim proof

Track what each insurer says before the claim story changes.

Claim numbers, adjuster names, phone numbers, email addresses, and mailing addresses

Letters, emails, text messages, portal screenshots, and settlement offers

Requests for recorded statements, medical releases, inspections, or independent exams

Copies of your policy, declarations page, UM/UIM coverage, and rental coverage details

Loss and life-impact proof

Show how the injury affected work, home responsibilities, mobility, and daily routines.

Pay stubs, tax records, missed shift notes, and employer letters

Receipts for transportation, medication, childcare, medical devices, and home help

Photos of visible injuries over time, saved with dates

Notes about activities you could not do, appointments missed, and support you needed

How to organize the file

Create one folder with subfolders for scene photos, medical care, insurance messages, wage loss, vehicle damage, and witness information. Name files with dates whenever possible. If a document only exists as a paper copy, photograph or scan it and save the original.

Then build a one-page timeline. Start with the accident, first symptoms, first medical visit, each insurer contact, any missed work, and each new diagnosis or referral. A clean timeline helps a reviewer see the case instead of sorting through disconnected documents.

Accident-scene checklist Insurance claim guide

Evidence checklist FAQs

What is the most important evidence after an accident?

The strongest evidence usually combines scene photos, witness information, police or incident reports, medical records, insurance communications, and proof of lost income or daily-life disruption.

How long should I keep accident evidence?

Keep everything until the claim is fully resolved and any release or settlement is complete. California deadlines can vary, and some evidence becomes important later when injuries or disputes develop.

Should I send all evidence to the insurance company immediately?

Send required claim information, but be careful with broad medical releases, recorded statements, and documents that include unrelated personal history. Get advice before sending anything you do not understand.

Can this checklist help if the accident was not a car crash?

Yes. The same evidence categories apply to many injury cases, including falls, rideshare accidents, truck accidents, bicycle crashes, pedestrian injuries, dog bites, and workplace-related third-party claims.