If you’ve suffered a personal injury at the hands of an individual or business, you can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation for the damages. If you’ve never filed one before, the steps you need to take to do so can be confusing. If you skip a step or don’t do it right, you won’t be able to seek damages for your injuries. That’s why it’s critical to know what to do. Here’s a brief guide to filing a personal injury claim that should help you out.
Seek Medical Treatment Immediately
The first and most crucial step is to go to the hospital as soon as possible. If you get treatment right after getting injured, you’ll start the paper trail you need to file a claim. It also shows that you’re injured and that you had to receive expensive medical treatment as a result. Also, do your best to take photos at the scene of the accident if you can.
Find a Reliable Personal Injury Attorney
Personal injury lawyers can have a large range of qualities, but there are some crucial ones you should look for in the lawyer you choose to hire. Before you can determine that, however, you need to find a personal injury attorney in your area. You can easily do this by:
- Doing some online searches.
- Paying close attention to user testimonials and reviews.
- Letting them know you’re interested in a contingency-fee deal. That means the lawyer only receives payment if you recover money. That way, if your case goes nowhere, you won’t have to pay any charges.
Gather Evidence
This is the step where those photos you took come into play. Taking photos after a personal injury is one of the smartest things you can do. Photos are hard evidence that you can use in court. You’ll work with your attorney to gather as much evidence as possible. Examples of evidence include:
- Clothing
- Pictures
- Testimonies
- Cell phone recordings
- Medical records
Once you have all the evidence laid out, it’s time to start negotiating.
Make a First Offer, and Negotiate
The first offer you receive from the other party will likely be lower than what you need. Listen closely to your attorney during this step. They’ll let you know how to negotiate correctly. You can expect a few offers to go back and forth.
Decide on Settling or Filing a Lawsuit
If the offer is satisfactory, you can choose to settle out of court. You’ll receive the payment, your lawyer will take a percentage, and you can pay your medical bills. If the offer doesn’t take care of your needs, you can pursue a lawsuit and a trial.
So that’s our brief guide to filing a personal injury claim. Consult this guide should you happen to suffer a personal injury in the future.
