Have you been injured by another person’s negligence? If so, now’s the time to get a lawyer involved. The longer you wait, the more unlikely you are to get compensation. You need to make a claim while everything’s fresh and your memory of the events leading up to the accident is intact. Evidence obtained early is also a lot more helpful, so even if you plan on waiting a while to make a claim, make sure you start building a case. This post will explore this topic, explaining everything you need to do in order to ensure you receive compensation.
1. Find Legal Support
The first step you need to take if you want to win a personal injury case is to find a lawyer to represent you. It is possible to make an independent claim, but it’s not recommended. A team of personal injury attorneys will be able to get you compensation a lot faster than you will be able to get it yourself. Also worth noting is that a law firm will be able to get you a higher amount of compensation than you will be able to. Negotiating with insurance companies is by no means easy. It takes years to become experienced enough to actually be able to get what you want from insurance adjusters. Make sure you hire the most qualified, experienced lawyer that you can.
2. Obtain Evidence Early
If you want to make a compensation claim, obtain as much evidence as you can. The earlier you collect evidence, the more likely you are to end up with a desirable settlement amount. The best type of evidence you can obtain is video or audio of the person responsible for causing your injuries admitting fault. Also, ensure that you have photos and videos of the scene of the accident and your injuries. Try to collect contact information for anybody who saw the accident. Additionally, make sure that you get a medical letter from the doctors who treat you at the ER or your family’s physician. A medical letter can be submitted to the insurance company you are claiming compensation from and used to support your claim. Make sure to keep receipts of all healthcare expenses and bills so that your lawyer can ask for the money back.
3. Make a Formal Claim
Once you have found a lawyer that you are comfortable working with and have evidence to support a claim, you can go ahead and make one. The first step in doing this is reaching out to your chosen lawyer and asking them if they would be willing to take you on as a client. Most likely, they will instruct a paralegal to call you and take your account of what happened. Then, they will ask you to send them all of the evidence you have. If you do not have any evidence but your claim stands to earn you a lot of money, the lawyer you’ve hired will pay a private investigator to get evidence for you. They can do this by visiting local stores, requesting CCTV, and obtaining witness statements. Making a formal claim can be stressful but it’s the first step toward getting the money you are owed, so it’s essential.
4. Understand the Process
If you make a compensation claim, you need to understand what the process entails. Once you have made a formal claim and your lawyer is investigating the case, they will get in touch with the responsible person’s insurance company and formalize the claim with them. They will then begin negotiating with the insurance company, arguing on your behalf. Insurance companies appoint professionals called insurance adjusters to people’s cases. Insurance adjusters do everything they can to argue people’s settlement amounts down, saving insurance companies money. There is nothing you really need to do in the early stages of a personal injury claim. If your lawyer needs you for anything, they will get in touch and ask you. Make sure that you sit back, relax, and let your lawyer do their work. Under no circumstances should you rush or pester them, as this will annoy them, and they won’t want to keep you as a client.
5. Have Some Patience
As mentioned in the last part of the previous section, you need to have some patience. Make sure that you let your lawyer do their job and that you focus on your recovery and applying for disability benefits. If you are unable to return to work because of your injuries, disability benefits are worth looking into. Disability benefits are paid to disabled individuals, typically on a monthly basis. The process of applying for disability benefits can be long and drawn out. Most personal injury lawyers have knowledge of how the process works, so if you have any questions or concerns, you can direct them to your attorney. There are also community organizations that offer help with applying for disability benefits, making it easier for people to get them. Make sure that you are honest and truthful throughout your application, otherwise, when you attend your physical examination, you will fail and your claim will be dismissed.
6. Focus On Your Recovery
While your lawyer is arguing on your behalf and getting you your compensation, you need to focus on your recovery. Recovering from injuries sustained in a car accident can be difficult. Oftentimes, people experience mental and physical trauma. Physical injuries are typically more easily treated than mental ones. Make sure that you find the best treatment centers you can go to. You can determine whether a treatment center is worth going to by reading their reviews. Make sure that all receipts related to healthcare expenses are sent to your lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to submit them as part of your claim and get you the money back, lowering your premiums. Because your healthcare bills will be fully covered by your settlement, don’t compromise on quality. Get the best care you can.
If another person’s carelessness has led to you being injured, you deserve compensation. The amount you could be owed depends entirely upon the severity of your injuries. Use the guidance given here to ensure that you win your claim.
