Top 8 Personal Injury Claim Tips
Intro:
Not only do you have the injury itself to deal with, but you also have the legal elements to navigate as well.
If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, you likely have reason to believe that you’ve experienced some kind of wrongful injury as a result of someone else’s negligence.
There are many types of personal injury cases—but at the end of the day, the truth is that you probably deserve compensation for the losses you’ve endured.
Here’s the tough part, though.
It’s not always that simple.
Succeeding at winning your personal injury claim is sometimes easier said than done.
And in this post, you’re going to learn 8 tips to help guide you along on the journey.
Here’s what you need to know.
Table of Contents
1. Gather Evidence
In the immediate aftermath of a personal injury, it’s vitally important that you gather evidence.
Gather information like:
- The police report
- Medical records
- Photographs/video
- Eyewitness statements
- Eyewitness contact information
- Documentation of lost income
The more evidence you can gather now, the easier it’ll be to receive fair compensation later on.
2. Go To The Doctor/Hospital
Always remember that your safety and well being comes first.
You want to gather as much evidence as possible in the wake of your injury, but don’t put yourself at additional risk to do so.
You also want to go to the hospital right away to establish a timeline of events after the incident.
When you go to the hospital, emergency room, or doctor’s office, make sure that you collect all applicable medical evidence of your injury.
Medical bills and doctor’s notes can help you as you file your claim and seek fair compensation.
3. Talk To A Lawyer
As soon as your medical condition has stabilized, you’ll want to reach out and talk to a lawyer.
Some people avoid this step because they’re afraid they won’t have the money necessary to hire legal representation.
But what a lot of people don’t understand is that many lawyers will take personal injury cases without upfront payment.
In such cases, they’ll negotiate to be paid out of a portion of your claim wins instead.
So don’t let a lack of funds keep you from talking to a lawyer.
4. Put Your Health And Safety First
You may be in a hurry to start your claim and file the legal paperwork.
And rightfully so, this should be a huge priority.
But don’t undermine your safety, health, and well-being in the process.
Give yourself the time you need to get cleared by the doctor.
For example, if your doctor tells you to stay the night in the hospital, stay the night in the hospital.
Don’t disobey the doctor’s orders and leave early because you’re in such a hurry to start your claim.
Get your immediate medical care finalized and resolved before you set yourself to the task of pursuing your personal injury claim.
5. Be Wary Of A Settlement Offer
If the offending entity believes that you may seek financial compensation for your injury, they’ll likely try to reach out as soon as possible with a settlement offer.
Always consult your lawyer before accepting such a settlement or signing any paperwork.
It’s highly likely that they’ll try to lowball you to get off the hook with a smaller payout.
Your lawyer will be able to tell you whether or not you should accept the offer.
6. Work On Building A Strong Case
If your personal injury claim goes to court, you’ll most likely have to present facts and evidence to support your claim.
This means that you’ll want to put as much work as possible into strengthening your case to make it not only believable, but legitimate in the eyes of the jury.
Most personal injury claims settle out of court.
But the stronger your case is, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to demand the high settlement that you actually deserve.
7. Be Careful Of Your Social Media
Opposing legal representation will sometimes use your social media against you in a personal injury case.
For example:
If you had a slip and fall case, and claim that the injury kept you from working for six months—but then, your social media shows that you were dancing at the club every Friday night, this could seriously undermine your case.
For best results, stay clear of social media until your personal injury claim has been settled or won in court.
8. If It Goes To Trial, Be Presentable
Remember that a jury of peers will most likely decide the outcome of your personal injury claim if it goes to court.
For this reason, it’s incredibly important that you put your best foot forward for the jury.
Make sure that you dress in a professional and presentable manner, so that you look like an upstanding citizen.
Believe it or not, the jury’s first impression of you will weigh heavily into whether or not they’ll think you deserve financial compensation.
So use this to your advantage by making yourself as presentable and ‘legitimate-looking’ as possible
Conclusion
There you have it.
8 tips for how to maximize your chances of winning your personal injury claim.
At the end of the day, suffering a personal injury is never a good thing.
You’re going to face a lot of stress and difficulty along the way.
But if you stay the course, listen to your attorney, and do everything you’re supposed to do—it’s highly likely that you’ll receive fair compensation for your injury, including medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering, time missed from work, etc.
If you were truly injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, then you deserve to be compensated.
So follow these tips to ensure the highest likelihood of that endeavor being successful.
Biswajit Rakshit is a professional blogger and writer. He loves to write on various topics.
