Injuries are stressful events that take a physical and emotional toll, not to mention other complications. Being injured can cause you to miss work, which means lost wages. Being injured can also cause you to miss important events in your life, and these experiences may be irreplaceable. If you’ve been injured due to the fault or negligence of someone else, it’s perfectly within reason to want compensation to cover medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. You may also be owed compensation for pain and suffering, or even future damages depending on how severe your injury is.
Before moving forward with a personal injury claim, you’ll need to know exactly who will be covering the incident. This will often be the other party’s insurance company, but it’s important to have that information in advance. Getting a favorable judgment in such a case won’t do you much good if the defendant has no assets and their insurance company isn’t covering the incident. While there’s no guaranteed way to win a personal injury case, these are good rules to follow to have your best chance.
Collect Evidence
This one probably seems obvious, but it’s crucial that you collect as much evidence for your case as possible. You should have photographic evidence of your injuries to prove their severity, and you should also have photos of any property damage. This includes photos of your car in car accident cases. Returning to the incident scene to collect photos later may help add context to the event as well.
If there are any witness or police reports attached to the event, these will also be useful. The defendant or their insurance company will be reluctant to pay, so you’ll have to prove your claim is justified. If the defendant tries to make a low settlement offer, ask them to justify it, and see what evidence they can provide. This can give you a good idea of how to continue making your case. Look into the defendant while you’re at it. If they have mugshots or other public records online regarding similar incidents, it may prove useful for your claim.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
You should have gotten medical attention as soon as possible after your injury. This is crucial for your own health as well as your injury claim. Waiting to seek treatment gives the defending party the opportunity to discredit your claim by saying your injuries came from a different source. Having any gaps in your medical history regarding your treatment or follow-up appointments would also let the opposing side weaken your claim. Be serious about any continued treatment, and be sure to make your appointments, so your medical records stay clean.
Know When to Get Help
Winning a personal injury claim can be difficult, especially on your own. If there’s ever a question of who was at fault, your best move is to contact some personal injury lawyers. This is generally the case when you’re asking for a large settlement or trying to secure compensation for future damages as well. Don’t risk losing a big settlement simply because you didn’t know how to handle it. A personal injury attorney will know how to fight for your best chance, and they may even be able to get you a bigger settlement.
Since many injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, the evidence you’ve already gathered should help convince them to take your case. You’ll have already demonstrated yourself as a cooperative client, and they’ll be able to give you a better estimate of how strong your case is. Keep in contact with your attorney to discuss any new developments, and avoid social media or anything else that the defendant could use against you when possible.
