Personal Injury Claims: What Evidence You Need and How to Build Your Case

Building a Strong Personal Injury Case

Personal injury claims require you to prove that someone else's negligence caused you harm and that you suffered quantifiable losses. The strength of your case depends almost entirely on the quality of your evidence.

What You Must Prove

Duty of care — the other party owed you a duty (e.g., drivers owe a duty to other road users)

Breach of duty — they failed to act reasonably (e.g., running a red light)

Causation — their breach directly caused your injury

Damages — you suffered actual, measurable loss

Essential Evidence to Gather

Medical Evidence

This is the foundation of your claim. You need:

Immediate medical records — from the emergency department, GP, or specialist you saw first. Delays in seeking treatment weaken your case.
Diagnosis and treatment plan — what injuries were diagnosed, what treatment was recommended
Follow-up records — ongoing treatment, physiotherapy, specialist consultations
Medical reports — a specialist medical report linking your injuries to the incident. This often requires a separate assessment.
Prognosis — how long recovery will take, whether there will be permanent effects

Incident Documentation

Police report — essential for traffic accidents, workplace incidents, and any incident where police attended
Photographs — of the scene, your injuries (taken over time as they develop), vehicle damage, hazardous conditions
CCTV footage — request this immediately as it's often overwritten within days
Witness contact details — names, phone numbers, and addresses of anyone who saw what happened

Financial Evidence

Medical bills — all receipts and invoices for treatment
Lost income — payslips before and after the incident, employer letter confirming time off
Transport costs — taxi receipts to medical appointments
Care costs — if you needed help with daily activities
Future losses — projected ongoing medical costs, reduced earning capacity

Common Mistakes That Weaken Claims

Delayed medical treatment — if you wait weeks to see a doctor, the insurer will argue your injuries weren't serious

Gaps in treatment — missing follow-up appointments suggests you've recovered

Social media posts — photos of you being active can be used to challenge your injury claims

Inconsistent statements — telling the doctor one thing and your lawyer another

Not mitigating losses — failing to follow medical advice or return to work when able

Exaggerating — overstating injuries destroys credibility and can invalidate the entire claim

Singapore-Specific Considerations

Motor Accident Claims

File a police report within 24 hours
Report to your insurer within 24 hours
Claims are typically handled under the Motor Accident Claims Framework via the State Courts
Use the Reporting Form for Motor Vehicle Accident (NF200/201)

Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA)

For workplace injuries, you can claim under WICA (no-fault, capped compensation) or common law (must prove negligence, uncapped)
WICA claims are filed with MOM within one year of the accident
Common law claims must be filed within 3 years
You cannot claim under both

Public Liability

Injuries on someone else's property (slip and fall in a mall, wet floor in a restaurant)
The occupier must prove they took reasonable steps to prevent injury
Document the hazard immediately (photos, incident report with management)

Time Limits

Personal injury claims: 3 years from the date of injury (Limitation Act, Section 24A)
WICA claims: 1 year from the date of accident
Fatal accident claims: 3 years from the date of death

Analyse Your Personal Injury Case

Upload your medical reports, police reports, photos, and financial documents to ArguLens AI. Get a detailed analysis of your case strengths, weaknesses, and what evidence gaps need to be filled.

[Analyse your case →](/case/new)

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always consult a qualified personal injury lawyer for advice specific to your situation.