The 10 Documents You Need to Start a Strong Injury Claim

Starting an injury claim can feel overwhelming because everything happens at once: medical appointments, calls from insurance adjusters, time off work, and a growing stack of paperwork. In that chaos, many people assume the claim will “work itself out” because the injury is real. But insurance companies don’t evaluate claims based on what feels fair—they evaluate what can be proven. The right documents can turn a confusing situation into a clear, supported case.

Your claim is only as strong as the evidence behind it. What happened? Who caused it? How were you hurt? What did it cost you? The earlier you organize those answers, the stronger your position becomes. If you’re unsure what to gather—or you want to make sure nothing important gets overlooked—speaking with a Lubbock personal injury lawyer can help you get started with the right foundation.

Medical Records From the First Visit

Medical records are the backbone of most injury claims because they connect the accident to your physical condition. They show what symptoms you reported, what diagnoses were made, and what treatment plan your provider recommended. The first visit matters the most because it creates the earliest paper trail linking your injury to the incident.

Collect emergency room notes, urgent care records, ambulance reports, imaging summaries, discharge paperwork, specialist referrals, and follow-up treatment records. These documents help prove your injury was real, medically evaluated, and required care beyond “just soreness.”

Itemized Medical Bills and Receipts

Medical bills show the financial cost of getting hurt. Itemized statements are especially useful because they break down services, procedures, and charges. These can include hospital bills, doctor invoices, physical therapy costs, prescriptions, and medical equipment expenses.

Also keep receipts for out-of-pocket spending. Copays, medications, braces, splints, and travel costs to appointments may seem minor, but insurers often question anything that isn’t backed up by proof. A clean paper trail makes reimbursement arguments much easier.

The Accident or Incident Report

An official report can help establish when and where the injury happened and how it was first documented. For car accidents, this is usually a police report. For workplace injuries, it may be a report filed with a supervisor. For slip-and-falls or public injuries, it may be a store or property incident report.

Even if a report is incomplete, it still helps support the timeline and identify key details like parties involved and potential witnesses. If something in the report is wrong, you can use additional evidence to correct the record.

Photos and Videos of the Scene

Photos can capture evidence that disappears quickly. Vehicles get repaired, hazards get cleaned up, and the scene changes within hours. Taking pictures right away can preserve details that later become essential for proving fault.

Take wide shots of the overall area and close-ups of hazards, damage, traffic signs, skid marks, broken steps, poor lighting, or anything that may have contributed. If video footage exists—from dashcams, security cameras, or doorbell cameras—try to identify it early before it gets deleted.

Photos of Your Injuries Over Time

Injuries often change in appearance. Bruising can darken days later, swelling can worsen overnight, and cuts may heal quickly even if they were severe. Having a photo timeline helps show the true severity and progression of the injury.

Take photos immediately after the incident and continue documenting the healing process. These images can support your medical records and help explain pain, limitations, and long-term effects that aren’t obvious in a single snapshot.

Witness Contact Information and Statements

Witnesses can be the difference between a clear claim and a disputed one. This is especially true when the other side denies responsibility or changes their story. Even a witness who saw only part of the event can help confirm key facts.

Get names, phone numbers, and emails whenever possible. If a witness is willing, a short written statement about what they observed can be helpful—especially when it’s collected close in time to the incident.

Proof of Lost Wages

If you missed work because of your injury, you need documentation showing the income you lost. Pay stubs, direct deposit records, timecards, tax forms, or a letter from your employer can help establish your wage rate and the dates you were unable to work.

Even if you used vacation or sick time, document it. Those are earned benefits, and using them because of an injury still represents a real loss tied to the incident.

Medical Work Restrictions or Disability Notes

Insurance companies often question whether time off work was “necessary.” A doctor’s restriction note helps confirm that your limitations were medically justified. These notes may include reduced hours, no lifting, limited standing, or a requirement to stay off work entirely.

Work restrictions also show how the injury impacted your daily life. Even if you returned to work, modified duty or reduced productivity can help support a larger claim when earning capacity was affected.

Insurance Information and Communication Records

Keep all claim-related documents from insurance companies. Save policy details, claim numbers, adjuster names, letters, emails, and any written requests for records or statements. These documents help you track what is being questioned and what deadlines may apply.

It’s also smart to keep a call log. Write down the date, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. These notes can be useful if your claim starts to feel inconsistent or delayed.

Repair Estimates and Property Damage Proof

Property damage supports the seriousness of what happened, especially in car accident cases. Repair estimates, towing invoices, total-loss evaluations, and mechanic reports can help prove the crash involved significant force.

In other injury cases, damaged personal items can also help—broken glasses, cracked phones, torn clothing, or destroyed safety gear. Keep them if possible, and take photos before replacing anything.

Final Step: Build a Record That Leaves No Room for Doubt

A strong injury claim needs a complete set of records, not just one perfect piece of evidence. Medical files show your injury and recovery, bills prove your financial burden, and photos illustrate the incident. Wage records document lost income, while witness statements provide important context.

Gathering these documents early and keeping them organized helps you build a clear case. The more thorough your records, the harder it is for an insurance company to downplay your losses or delay your compensation.