Keep All Bills and Receipts Related to Your Accident

Keeping proper documentation is important in many aspects of life. Car accidents are no exception. Indeed, it is one of the secrets to settling your car accident injury claim.

When you do your taxes every year and claim deductions, you keep all your receipts. When you make a major purchase, you keep the receipt in case you need to return it.

A personal injury case is no different. If you’re going to claim $250,000 in medical expenses, you’re going to need proof that your injury amounted to this much money. The insurance company, judge or jury isn’t going to simply take your word for it.

That’s why receipts are critical in this case. If you don’t have receipts because you don’t have the money to pay, then a copy of a bill is sufficient. But you’ll need one or the other to claim damages. This demonstrates that organization is key after a car accident.

If you don’t to carry around a file of little receipts that can be easily lost, consider scanning and saving everything as files. You can keep everything easily accessible on your laptop, and it’s easy to email copies of receipts if needed.

What to Keep

Keep receipts for all expenses related to your accident claim. This includes medical bills, rental cars, taxi service and towing costs. If your injury caused you to become unable to care for your children, childcare costs can be reimbursed. Be sure to get a receipt. The same goes for housekeeping costs.

If you had to take time off work, gather copies of pay stubs to show how much money you lost as a result of the accident. The same goes for your spouse if he or she also had to take time off work to care for you.

If you had to replace certain personal items, like a cell phone that broke during the car accident, keep the receipt. If you required out of town medical care and you stayed in a hotel, hold onto the receipt. If you had an all-day doctor visit and needed a meal during the day, document it.

Let the insurance company know about the expenses you incurred. Sometimes there are forms that must be filled out, so make sure you understand the expense reimbursement process.

Keep a File

Keeping good records is very important in a personal injury case, where a lot of money is at stake. You’ll want to keep all your bills and receipts safe in one place. Invest in folders and a filing cabinet or some other container that can hold all the paperwork involved in your case. That way, if the insurance company has questions about a certain expense, you can easily find the associated receipt or bill. If you can’t find a certain bill or receipt, try to get a copy and add it to your file.

After a car accident, organization and scrupulous recordkeeping are key. A lost receipt could cause you to lose thousands of dollars in damages.

Read about the other secrets:

1. Conduct a complete investigation.
2. Get photographs of all important elements in your case.
3. Don’t release your medical records to the other party’s insurance company.
4. Get the insurance company to set up a high reserve account.
5. Keep the adjuster informed about the seriousness of your injuries.
6. Don’t let the insurance adjuster pressure you into settling your case.
7. Keep a day-by-day diary of your injuries.
8. Know all your damages.
9. Keep all bills and receipts related to your accident.
10. Know all your injuries.
11. Know your sources for insurance coverage.
12. Stay under your doctor’s care until your doctor releases you.
13. File your lawsuit right away.
14. Ask a qualified trial lawyer to evaluate your case.
15. If you decide to hire a lawyer, choose a trial attorney who isn’t afraid to go to court.