The result of your personal injury case can have an enormous impact on your future. Without the money from this claim, you won’t be able to afford your medical bills, replace the money you lost when you took time off work or repair your damaged property. Unfortunately, winning a personal injury case can be challenging. Below are some tips to increase your chances of filing a successful claim.
1. Get immediate medical treatment.
After you have been involved in an accident, the best thing you can do to ensure the viability of a future claim is to seek medical treatment immediately. If you don’t see a doctor right away, the defendant will use this fact against you in court. In addition, failing to seek prompt medical treatment may worsen the outcome of your injuries. Throughout the course of your treatment, make sure that you follow your physician’s orders carefully. Take all of your medications as directed and attend all follow-up appointments.
2. Collect as much evidence as possible.
When attempting to collect compensation for an injury, you must be able to prove that the individual or entity responsible for the incident was not only negligent, but that their actions were the direct cause of your injuries. Thus, you need to collect as much evidence as possible to support your claim. On the scene of the accident, take photographs and ask any witnesses to provide detailed contact information. Write down your memories of the experience in detail as soon as you can after the incident, and keep a daily journal of how your injuries are affecting your life.
3. Keep detailed records of your losses.
After you have proven that the individual or entity in question was responsible for your injuries, you will have to justify the amount of damages you are requesting. In order to validate your estimate, you must be able to show detailed records of all of the losses you have sustained. Create an itemized list of every loss you have experienced, including the cost of doctor’s appointments, medications, physical therapy and tests. This list should also include the amount of wages you lost at work and a detailed estimate of all of the expenses you expect to pay for ongoing treatment in the future. Whenever possible, attach receipts and any other supporting documents to this list.
4. Don’t rush into a settlement.
When the other side offers an initial settlement, your first instinct may be to take the offer so that the ordeal will finally be over. However, if the settlement offer doesn’t adequately cover all of your expenses, you should resist the urge to take it. Instead, be patient and think about the issue logically. In most cases, the first offer you receive is not the highest amount the defendant is willing to pay.
5. Seek assistance from a personal injury attorney.
Dealing with the aftermath of an accident is hard enough on its own. Don’t bite off more than you can chew by attempting to file a personal injury claim without any help. Having representation from a qualified legal representative will help to ensure that your case is strong and that you get the compensation you deserve. To learn more about filing a personal injury claim, contact Taos Injury Lawyers to find an experienced attorney in your area.