Medical evidence
How to organise injury claim evidence when you do not speak Dutch
Build a usable claim file across languages without rewriting the originals. A short timeline and indexed records can prevent confusion.
Create one reliable timeline
Start with the incident date, location and a short factual account. Add important medical appointments, reports to insurers or employers and significant changes in work or recovery. Include reference numbers where available.
Mark estimates as estimates. If you are unsure whether a call was on Tuesday or Wednesday, do not invent certainty. A timeline should make the evidence easier to follow, not improve it beyond what you can honestly recall.
Keep three parts of the file distinct
Accident evidence includes photographs, witness details and incident reports. Medical material concerns symptoms, treatment and prognosis. Loss evidence covers expenses, earnings and practical assistance. One type does not automatically prove another: a treatment invoice does not establish who caused the accident.
Use clear file names with dates and retain the original attachment. Back up important material securely and avoid forwarding medical records through unnecessary groups or shared work accounts.
Translate selectively and transparently
A working English explanation may be enough for an initial discussion. Court procedures or particular records may require a different standard. Ask the person handling the claim what is needed and who should arrange it.
Keep any translation linked to its original and identify who prepared it. Automated translation can misread legal terms, dates or medical expressions. Do not rely on it alone when accepting a settlement or signing a medical authority.
Preserve correspondence before access is lost
Work email, delivery apps and travel bookings may become unavailable. Save relevant records lawfully while you can. Ask witnesses for a way to contact them after they leave the Netherlands. If footage might exist, make a prompt, focused preservation request.
The Dutch claim glossary can help with common terms. If you are moving abroad, see continuing a claim after returning home. Our English-speaking contact team can discuss how to provide the essential information for an initial assessment.
Use the traffic accident guide for the overall process after a road collision. If you were on foot, the pedestrian injury guide helps place your evidence in the relevant accident setting.
Build a clear accident evidence file
- Create a dated account separating your observations from what others told you.
- Keep original photographs, videos and documents; work on copies when adding notes.
- Group liability correspondence, medical information and financial records separately.
- List witnesses and describe what they personally observed.
- Retain the original Dutch document alongside any translation and identify who translated it.
- Use the secure communication method agreed with your representative for sensitive records.
Questions you may still have
Should I translate every document before contacting you?
Usually not for an initial assessment. Explain what documents exist and ask which ones need translation. This can avoid unnecessary cost.
Can a witness give an account in another language?
Their own accurate account is valuable. Preserve the original and ask how it should be translated for the particular claim or procedure.
Sources and legal context
General information about Dutch personal injury claims. Some source material is in Dutch. Your circumstances may require a different assessment.
This guide explains general principles. It is not a decision on liability or the value of an individual claim.