What is Spoliation of Evidence?

What is spoliation of evidence in personal injury law?

Spoliation of evidence occurs when a party destroys, alters, or fails to preserve evidence that is relevant to a legal claim. This can happen accidentally or intentionally. In personal injury cases, it can harm the opposing party’s ability to prove their claim and may lead to serious legal consequences.

• Involves destroying or altering important evidence.
  
  
• Can be intentional or accidental.
  
  
• Harms the other party’s ability to prove their case.
  
  
• Has serious legal repercussions.
  
  

Why is spoliation of evidence a big deal?

Evidence is the foundation of any personal injury case. When it’s lost or destroyed, it can distort the truth, weaken claims, and prevent fair outcomes. Courts take spoliation seriously because it undermines the justice system.

• Prevents the court from seeing the full truth.
  
  
• Can severely weaken a case.
  
  
• Undermines fairness in the legal process.
  
  
• May result in sanctions or penalties.
  
  

What are the consequences of spoliation?

Courts can impose sanctions such as fines, dismissal of claims, or instructing the jury to assume the missing evidence would have been unfavorable to the party responsible for its loss. In extreme cases, spoliation can lead to criminal charges.

• Fines and monetary penalties.
  
  
• Case dismissal or claim limits.
  
  
• Adverse inference jury instructions.
  
  
• Potential criminal liability.
  
  

How can spoliation be avoided?

Once litigation is anticipated, parties must preserve all relevant evidence. This includes creating backups, storing physical evidence securely, and following legal preservation notices. Attorneys often send “litigation hold” letters to formalize this requirement.

• Preserve evidence as soon as litigation is likely.
  
  
• Follow litigation hold procedures.
  
  
• Store items securely.
  
  
• Keep digital backups.
  
  

Conclusion:
Spoliation of evidence can damage or even destroy a personal injury case. Preserving relevant evidence is both a legal duty and a smart strategy.