Five Tips That Can Help Win Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
Filing a personal injury claim to retrieve compensation from the negligent party is just the beginning of a potentially lengthy and difficult process. Winning your personal injury case is more complicated than you would think, even if for you it is very clear that you have sustained injuries due to another party’s negligence. However much you believe that you have a justified claim, you still need to prove it.
Below are five tips to that can help you prove your case.
You Need to Seek Medical Treatment
You can claim to be hurt as much as you want, if you haven’t been to a doctor to examine your injury and potentially prescribe treatment, it will be hard to prove that you’ve really been hurt. If you’ve been injured in an accident you should always see a doctor to have a look at any injuries you have. There might even be injuries that you weren’t even aware of yet. You should seek medical treatment immediately following your accident.
Retain a Lawyer
Most people who are injured don’t fully know their legal rights, how the legal process for personal injury cases works and how much their case could be worth. Insurance companies know this, which is why they will handle a claim differently if an attorney is involved. Insurance companies need to make money so they will always try to offer you the lowest possible amount for compensation. A capable personal injury lawyer will help you negotiate with any involved insurance companies to get you the highest possible settlement.
Don’t Give Statements Insurance Companies
During their investigation, insurance company examiners will probably try to get you to give them recorded statements about the accident and ask you questions that could hurt your case. You should always politely refuse to cooperate until you’ve contacted a personal injury lawyer.
Maintain Good Communication With Your Attorney
Your attorney is there to help you through the entire process, but they won’t be able to provide you the necessary advise if you don’t properly communicate. Always let your attorney know when you make doctor’s appointments for new examinations or when a new injury that’s linked to the accident has popped up. It’s important that you hire a lawyer who you feel comfortable with as this will make it easier to keep good two-way communication going throughout the entire process.
Be Thorough and Accurate About Your Medical History
Many people think that if they have a history with back problems, they shouldn’t mention this if their back got hurt in an accident. This is actually a very bad idea. If a back problem was worsened due to the accident that you filed a claim for, you can get compensation for this even if your medical history shows back problems. However, if you don’t mention these previous back problems, they will likely surface anyway, which will look bad for the jury. Always disclose your full medical history to your doctor and lawyer. This information will help your lawyer prepare your case.
While these five tips won’t guarantee a positive outcome for your personal injury case, they will help put you in a better position to win. Make sure to talk to your lawyer regularly so they can help guide you through the entire process.
Zane Schwarzlose writes for the Loewy Law Firm, a personal injury law firm in Austin, Texas. Zane thinks that record keeping is key to winning a personal injury case.