5 Tips To Help Your Personal Injury Case

If you sustained injuries after an accident, you could seek compensation from the other party. However, the final settlement amount depends on how you manage the entire process. Here are tips to follow when filing for a personal injury claim.

1. Get Proper Medical Attention

Most people feel or experience some form of injury after an accident. However, the injuries may not be visible or apparent immediately after the accident, and you might feel just fine. For example, symptoms of neck, back, and head injuries can take several days or weeks to appear.

As a result, you might be tempted to postpone or ignore medical attention. When you finally discover that you were badly hurt, the injuries could have caused serious damage to your body. Failure to get immediate medical attention means that the insurance company can claim that the accident in question did not cause the injuries. You also won't have proper documentation to prove the injuries.

Keep accurate records of your treatment as well as the name of the health care providers.

2. Stay at the Scene of the Accident

You might want to get to your destination as soon as possible, even if you have been involved in an accident. However, if you depart the scene, you won’t have the chance to inform law enforcement or security personnel about the accident. You also won't be around when the police create a report of the accident. 

By staying around, you can identify critical details such as the time of day and circumstances surrounding the accident. You can also get to know any witnesses present and encourage them to support your cause.

3. Keep Information Private

You might be tempted to share details of the accident with your friends, relatives, and even potential defendants. For example, if you are involved in a road accident, you may want to apologize to the other party. The defendant can use the apology as evidence that you are responsible for the accident. 

Even posting on social media after the accident can damage your case. For example, you may have stated that the injuries made it impossible for you to go to work. If you post a photo at the workplace, the defense can use that as evidence that you lied to the court.

The insurance company might also want you to record a statement as soon as the accident occurs. In some cases, the company simply wants you to provide conflicting information, which they can use to deny your claim. Any statement you provide to the insurance company must first go through your lawyer.

4. File a Claim Promptly

You have limited time to file a personal injury claim once the accident occurs. However, you might spend most of your time in a hospital if you sustain serious injuries. By the time you recover and can now focus on getting compensation, the statute of limitations will have kicked in. This is often a problem for people who try to represent themselves instead of hiring an attorney.

5. Seek Legal Counsel

Many people assume that hiring a lawyer is a waste of money and can reduce their eventual compensation. However, personal injury lawyers understand how to gather the necessary evidence and evaluate the case. The lawyers also know the best negotiating strategies and how to convince insurance companies to accept personal injury claims. Without strong legal representation, your case will likely collapse, and you may never get any compensation.

Personal injury claims are complicated and may not always be successful. Frank Penney Injury Lawyers can assess your claim and show you how to build a solid foundation to win the case. We specialize in helping victims of slip and fall accidents, wrongful death, motorcycle accidents, and auto accidents. Contact us for more information.