Seven Records Every Personal-Injury Plaintiff Must Keep (and How to Bullet-Proof Them for Trial)
When life flips upside-down after an accident, paperwork is the last thing anyone feels like handling. Yet the documents you gather now can make—or break—your recovery later. Judges and juries in Pennsylvania and New Jersey scrutinize evidence down to the smallest timestamp; insurance carriers weaponize every missing receipt. As trial lawyers, we’ve watched strong cases wobble because a single page was misplaced
Below, the Edelstein Law Jurist Journal breaks down the seven record categories that routinely decide settlement values and verdicts. We’ll explain what each record is, why it matters, and—most importantly—how to “bullet-proof” it so defense counsel can’t poke holes at trial.
The Facts & Issue
In civil litigation the plaintiff carries the burden of proof. Your testimony is powerful—but documents corroborate and quantify it. Pennsylvania and New Jersey Rules of Evidence require that items introduced at trial be authenticated, relevant, and not unduly prejudicial. Defense attorneys look for gaps, alterations, or chain-of-custody problems to undermine credibility.
Properly collected and preserved records:
Lock in liability (who caused the injury and how).
Verify damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering).
Accelerate settlement by front-loading the discovery your opponent needs.
Shield you from “spoliation” claims—allegations that you destroyed or altered evidence.
The Seven Must-Keep Records & How to Bullet-Proof Them
The Seven Must-Keep Records—Explained in Plain English
Medical Records & Bills
Your medical file is the spine of any personal-injury claim. Certified hospital charts, imaging reports, specialist notes, and every Explanation of Benefits (EOB) tell a complete story of diagnosis, treatment, and cost. Request full, certified copies (not mere summaries) as soon as possible, scan them at high resolution, and store them chronologically in a redundant, cloud-based folder. This prevents “missing page” attacks and lets us present an indisputable ledger of your damages.
11. Photographs & Video Evidence
Nothing speaks louder than a clear, time-stamped image of the accident scene or your injuries. Shoot wide, medium, and close-ups, and preserve the originals—unedited and in their native resolution. Back them up to an immutable storage option (think a write-once Amazon S3 bucket) so defense counsel cannot claim alterations. Metadata—date, time, location—must remain intact to authenticate the images in court.
III. Police or Incident Reports
An official report often locks in liability and may include vital third-party statements. Obtain a certified copy directly from the agency, then review it for accuracy. If you spot errors, file a written request for corrections immediately and save the correspondence. A certified, error-free report leaves little room for the defense to undermine the narrative.
IV. Employment & Income Records
To recover lost wages or diminished earning capacity, we need proof of what you earned before and after the injury. Collect recent pay stubs, W-2s/1099s, timesheets, and—ideally—an HR letter verifying your role and hours. Organize these documents by pay period and store duplicates in a secure cloud folder. That level of detail makes your economic-loss claim virtually bullet-proof.
V. Pain & Limitations Journal
While medical bills show what happened, a contemporaneous journal shows how it feels. Record pain levels (1–10), activities missed, emotional struggles, and even sleep disruption—daily, if possible. Date and sign each entry or use a secure journaling app that timestamps automatically. Jurors trust day-to-day logs far more than after-the-fact recollections.
VI. Insurance & Claim Correspondence
Every email, letter, and adjuster voicemail can contain statements that help—or hurt—your case. Funnel all communications into a dedicated folder. After phone calls, jot down the date, time, adjuster’s name, and substance of the conversation. A tidy paper trail prevents “he-said, she-said” disputes and shows the insurer’s conduct if they act in bad faith.
VII. Repair Estimates & Property-Damage Invoices
Vehicle, phone, clothing—whatever was damaged—has real replacement costs. Secure multiple estimates where possible and retain the final invoices. Note each vendor’s credentials and snap before-and-after photos. These records anchor your property-damage claim to verifiable numbers rather than guesswork, closing another loophole the defense might exploit.
By gathering—and safeguarding—these seven categories of evidence, you transform your claim from “just another file” into a fortress the defense will struggle to breach. If you need help auditing or organizing your records, Edelstein Law, LLP stands ready to guide you.
Educational & Authoritative Links
(All links current as of June 2025.)
Questions About Evidence?
We Have the Answers
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Answer: Often, yes. File a written amendment request with the reporting agency quickly and keep a copy of the request and any response for your records.
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Answer: Notify your attorney immediately. We can subpoena duplicates (e.g., hospital charts) and prepare affidavits explaining the loss to mitigate credibility damage.
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Answer: Retain them until final judgment is satisfied and any appeal period expires—typically at least two years post-resolution. Digital backups should be indefinite.
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Answer: Yes, provided you can authenticate them (original metadata, chain of custody) and show they are unaltered—hence the importance of preserving originals.
Call Edelstein Law Let’s Bullet-Proof Your Case Today
Your healing deserves undivided focus— not paperwork nightmares. Edelstein Law, LLP has secured millions for Pennsylvanians and New Jersey residents by turning meticulous records into unstoppable courtroom narratives.
Ready to strengthen your claim?
☎️ Call 215-893-9311 or start a free consultation or feel free to contact us with questions about how our policies operate. Our attorneys will audit your records, fill gaps, and position your case for maximum recovery—before the defense ever gets a shot.
No fee unless we win. Confidential, compassionate, relentless.
This content is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. For advice regarding your specific situation, please consult an Edelstein Law attorney.
