“7 Steps to Take Before Filing a Personal Injury Claim”
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, filing a personal injury claim is often the best way to get the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages, and other costs associated with your injury. But before you file, there are several steps you should take to increase your chances of a successful outcome. Here, we outline seven steps that can help you have a successful personal injury claim.
1. Seek Medical Attention
When possible, seek medical attention as soon as possible after your injury. Not only will this ensure that your health is taken care of, but it will also create a record of the incident in case you need it later on. Make sure to keep all of your medical bills and records for future reference and so they can be used as evidence in your case.
2. Gather Evidence
Gather as much evidence as you can about the incident that caused your injury. This includes photos of the site, physical evidence such as broken objects or substances involved in the incident, witness statements, and any other documents related to the incident that might be helpful in making your case.
3. Speak With an Attorney
Before filing a personal injury claim, it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney who specializes in this type of law. Your attorney will be able to advise you on the best course of action and represent you throughout the process.
4. Calculate Your Damages
Your attorney will also help you calculate how much money you may be entitled to in compensation for your injuries. Consider all costs associated with the injury—medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress—as well as any future costs you may incur due to long-term effects from the injury.
5. File Your Claim
Once all of these steps are complete, it’s time to file a personal injury claim with the responsible party’s insurance company or directly with them if they are self-insured. Your attorney will handle this process for you and make sure everything is filed correctly and on time.
6. Negotiate a Settlement
It’s likely that once your claim is filed, the insurance company or self-insured party will offer a settlement that they feel is fair and reasonable for both parties. Your attorney will help negotiate this settlement on your behalf and make sure that it meets all of your needs and wants before signing off on it.
7. Take Your Case to Court
If negotiations fail or if the settlement offer is not satisfactory, then the next step would be to take your case to court where a judge or jury will decide who is liable for your injuries and how much money should be awarded for damages resulting from them. This can be a lengthy process so make sure that all other steps have been taken prior to this point if at all possible so that there are no delays in getting justice for yourself or loved ones involved in the incident.
Filing a personal injury claim can seem like an overwhelming task but following these seven steps can help ensure that everything is done correctly and efficiently so that justice is served swiftly and efficiently in the end result. If you have any questions or need more information on filing a personal injury claim, contact an experienced attorney today who specializes in this field for more assistance!