If you have suffered injuries resulting from another person’s negligence, you may be considering filing a lawsuit against the entity responsible for the damages. However, the outcome of your injury claim may be dependent on how well you prepare your case.
Ideally, a fair settlement would be one that adequately covers all economic damages such as hospital bills and lost wages, non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, and punitive damages if applicable.
Get Immediate Medical Attention and Keep Records
After an accident, getting medical attention should be your priority. Even if your injuries are not severe, seeing a doctor can help rule out severe internal injuries. Also, seeking medical attention after an accident is critical in creating a link between your injuries and the accident.
Besides getting medical attention, ensure that you keep all medical bills and records from the day you go into the ER to the day you attain maximum medical improvement. If you have not recovered when filing a lawsuit, you can have your doctor do a prognosis of your expected recovery and possible future costs of treatment.
Collect Evidence
Whenever possible, you may also want to collect as much evidence on the accident scene as possible. This evidence could be in pictures or video of the accident scene and your injuries.
Additionally, you may want to collect witness contacts and statements if other people were present at the time of the accident and any evidence relevant to your case. This evidence can be significantly valuable to your lawyer when building your case.
Avoid Social Media
As much as you may want to let your friends and followers know about your accident, social media is not your friend when preparing for a personal injury lawsuit. The opposing side will be on the lookout for your social media postings that they could use to lower the value of your settlement. If you must post anything, a good rule of thumb is to let your lawyer approve it first.
Get A Good Lawyer
Hiring a lawyer dedicated to personal injury law is a good idea. You may not have to pay a penny because many personal injury lawyers offer free initial consultations and represent clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay after they win your case and recover damages.
If you believe you have a good lawyer on your side, it is essential to take their advice. They are more knowledgeable about personal injuries than you do and are worth listening to.
Do Not Be in A Rush to Settle
“The insurance adjuster intends to save their employer money, so victims of personal injury cases should be hesitant about settling quickly,” says Lone Star Injury Attorneys.
These offers are usually low because they know you are in financial hardship and want to take advantage of that. No matter how tempting it could be, leave it if your lawyer says it is not a good deal.