After a catastrophic injury, people often focus on surviving the day. That’s understandable. But in paralysis cases, early details can strongly influence liability and damages, especially when the other side starts questioning causation.
Consider prioritizing these items (or asking a lawyer to help collect them):
- Medical records from the first 24–72 hours (ER notes, imaging reports, discharge instructions, specialty consults)
- Written incident documentation (police/incident report number, employer incident report, location notes)
- Name and contact info for witnesses while memories are fresh
- Photos/video of the scene when safe/legal (road conditions, signage, lighting, barriers, fall hazards)
- A running log of symptoms and functional changes (mobility, bladder/bowel function, sleep, pain, work ability)
For Oshkosh residents, this can matter even more after nighttime crashes, winter/shoulder conditions, or construction-era changes where lanes, signage, and pedestrian routes may differ from normal.


