What Documents Should You Keep After an Accident?
Accepting that an accident has upended daily life is hard enough; figuring out which papers to save afterward can feel impossible. Most of us in Houston, Texas, keep receipts in a junk drawer and email confirmations in a crowded inbox—hardly ideal when medical providers, adjusters, and repair shops all start asking for proof.
Missing paperwork can trim thousands off an injury claim or delay a badly needed payout, so a little organization early on makes an enormous difference later.
At the Law Office of Frederick K. Wilson II, we’ve spent years watching clients scramble for documents they didn’t realize were vital.
As a Houston car accident attorney firm, we want every Texan to know exactly what to preserve and why. Think of the following guide as a road map: gather these records, store them safely, and you’ll hand us the tools we need to pursue full compensation.
Why Documentation Matters After a Crash
Insurance companies don’t pay based on sympathy; they pay based on evidence. Each bill, report, and photograph adds a brick to the legal foundation of your claim.
Without those bricks, adjusters minimize injuries, dispute medical costs, or question time off work. Keeping a comprehensive paper trail arms us—your car accident attorney—with undeniable proof of how the collision changed your life.
Scene-Related Records You Should Collect Immediately
The first 24 hours after a crash generate a surprising amount of paperwork, and we encourage clients to capture it all.
Before you leave the scene, look for or request the following:
Police crash report number: The number alone lets us order the full report later.
Photographs of vehicle damage: Wide shots and close-ups document impact zones and paint transfer.
Photographs of road conditions: Skid marks, debris, and traffic-signal positions often fade within hours.
Witness contact information: Names, phone numbers, and short statements protect against shifting stories.
Tow-truck receipt: Proves removal location and vehicle condition at pickup.
Exchange of information form: Lists insurance details for every driver involved.
Having these items in hand prevents the “he said, she said” disputes that insurers love to exploit. It also allows us to reconstruct events accurately if litigation becomes necessary.
Medical Records and Bills That Track Your Healing
Emergency-room paperwork is only the beginning. Every doctor you see and every prescription you fill leaves a trace we can convert into damages.
After treatment begins, make sure to secure:
Hospital discharge summary: Outlines diagnoses, recommended follow-ups, and initial disability notes.
Imaging results: X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs often reveal injuries not visible externally.
Specialist reports: Orthopedic and neurological assessments carry substantial weight with adjusters.
Physical-therapy notes: Session dates and progress metrics illustrate ongoing limitations.
Prescription receipts: Show medication type, dosage, and cost.
Mileage log to appointments: Texas law lets us recover travel expenses related to medical care.
We review these materials with medical experts to forecast future treatment and present a solid figure for anticipated costs. That foresight prevents insurers from claiming you “over-treated” or healed faster than you actually did.
Insurance Correspondence You Might Overlook
Every letter or email from an insurer—yours or the other driver’s—contains information that shapes strategy. Tossing it can cost leverage.
Whenever mail arrives from a carrier, keep copies of:
Claim acknowledgment letters: Confirm policy numbers, claim numbers, and adjuster assignments.
Reservation of rights letters: Signal that the insurer may deny coverage and explain why.
Coverage determination letters: Outline accepted and rejected damages.
Payment logs and explanations of benefits (EOBs): Reveal what the carrier already paid and to whom.
Recorded-statement transcripts or confirmations: Prove what you did (or wisely did not) say.
We study these documents line by line to spot inconsistencies, missed deadlines, or policy defenses that lack merit. Equipped with that knowledge, we—as your car accident attorney—can push back against unfair denials.
Employment and Income Documentation
Lost wages extend beyond the sick days you burned in the first week.
Gather evidence such as:
Recent pay stubs: Establish pre-accident earnings and overtime averages.
W-2s or 1099s for the past two years: Show income trends and bonus history.
Employer verification letters: Confirm days missed and light-duty restrictions.
Benefits summaries: Put a dollar value on lost retirement contributions or health-insurance premiums.
These records help economists quantify both short-term wage loss and long-term earning-capacity reductions—figures a car accident attorney uses to counter lowball offers.
Personal Journals and Expense Logs
Some of the most persuasive evidence never comes from a hospital or police station; it comes from daily life.
Take a moment each evening to note:
Pain levels and mobility limits: Numerical scales or brief descriptions illustrate how symptoms evolve.
Sleep disruptions: Nighttime pain or anxiety paints a vivid picture of suffering.
Missed events: Birthdays, school concerts, or vacations you could not attend add human impact.
Out-of-pocket purchases: Braces, wrist splints, heating pads, and ride-share fares all count.
When we present these notes alongside medical data, adjusters see the human cost rather than just itemized bills.
Digital Evidence and Preservation Tips
Today, crucial proof often lives on phones and smart devices.
Safeguard the following:
Dash-cam footage: Save original files and back them up to cloud storage.
Smartphone photos and videos: Time-stamped media can debunk later claims that damage happened elsewhere.
Text messages with the other driver: Apologies or admissions of fault sent immediately after a crash are powerful evidence.
App-based ride receipts: Show transportation expenses when your vehicle is unavailable.
Fitness-tracker data: Corroborates decreased activity after injury.
Digital files can corrupt or disappear; create redundant backups and share them with us early so we can authenticate time stamps.
How We Organize Your File as Your Car Accident Attorney
Once we receive your documents, we scan, index, and label each item before uploading it to a secure case-management portal. Chronological folders allow us to chart pain progression, treatment milestones, and communication gaps.
When mediation or trial approaches, we generate exhibits in minutes rather than scrambling for PDFs. This systematic approach tells a cohesive story—one that insurers have a hard time tearing apart—and underscores why partnering with a meticulous car accident attorney pays dividends.
Pitfalls to Avoid When Storing Accident Documents
Even diligent clients sometimes slip into habits that weaken a claim.
Common errors include:
Mixing originals and copies: Lenders, hospitals, and courts may require originals. Keep duplicates clearly marked.
Highlighting or writing on records: An innocent note can trigger authenticity challenges. Use sticky notes instead.
Sharing documents on social media: Screenshots give defense attorneys a free peek at your strategy.
Forgetting deadlines: Texas typically allows two years to file suit, but some notices—like those to government entities—have much shorter limits.
Avoiding these pitfalls keeps the evidentiary chain intact and your case on solid footing.
Simple Storage Solutions That Work
You don’t need a high-priced scanner to stay organized.
Many clients succeed with:
Accordion folders labeled by category: Physical papers stay in order and travel easily to appointments.
Cloud storage with shared access links: Lets us download files without waiting for mail.
Spreadsheet expense trackers: Capture dates, vendors, and costs in one searchable place.
Periodic digital backups: External drives or secure cloud accounts guard against hardware failure.
Select a system you’ll actually use. Consistency beats sophistication every time.
When to Hand Everything Over to Us
Bring or upload your collection the moment you hire our firm. Early review allows us to:
Spot missing records and submit immediate requests.
Notify healthcare providers that a claim is pending to pause aggressive collections.
Calculate a provisional case value that guides negotiation targets.
Draft preservation letters preventing insurers from destroying evidence such as vehicle black-box data.
By acting quickly, we leverage time—often the most underrated advantage in litigation—on your behalf.
Contact Us Today
Accidents create chaos; documents create order. Each receipt, report, and photograph you preserve today strengthens the argument for fair compensation tomorrow. At the Law Office of Frederick K. Wilson II, we believe no client should lose a single dime because an important paper went missing.
That’s why we serve Houston, Texas, with a hands-on approach: guiding what to keep, how to store it, and when to let us deploy it. If questions arise about any record—or if the pile already feels unmanageable—reach out.
Together we’ll turn scattered paperwork into a powerful narrative that even the toughest insurer can’t ignore. From start to finish, our role as your car accident attorney firm is to transform information into justice—and it all begins with the documents you save. Call today to learn more.