The United States Department of Justice records over 400,000 personal injury claims each year. These claims make up a huge part of all civil litigation cases, and they can result from accidents such as car accidents, dog bites, slips and falls, and more. Therefore, if you have sustained an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you have a right to ask them to compensate you for your loss, injuries, and other damages. To do this, you will need to make a personal injury claim.
The at-fault insurance company mostly handles these claims. You will negotiate with them for your physical, material, psychological, social, and financial damages. You also have the option of agreeing to a settlement or filing a lawsuit with the help of a personal injury attorney.
Here are three tips that you should do to make your claim successful.
Keep a Record of Everything
It would be best if you were very thorough and accurate with your claim. This includes writing down precise details of the accident as vividly as you can remember. You need to show what the at-fault party did and how their actions contributed to the accident and your injuries.
Also, it is advisable to have photos of the accident scene and injuries sustained. You should also get a copy of the police report and any witnesses’ contact information at the scene. Keep a journal of any pain, trauma, and other psychological or emotional symptoms that you have.
Keep a good record of all your hospital visits, treatments, surgeries, or therapies and all the receipts of your medical costs. Do not forget to write down the days you have had to miss work, contracts you have lost, holidays that you could not go to, all your financial losses, including hospital parking or transport charges, and more.
Have documents to back up your claims too. Be as detailed and as accurate as possible. Remember, do not lie or exaggerate in an attempt to claim more. Insurers always work with adjusters and investigators. They will keenly look into your claim and your life. If they find that you have lied, they can deny the claim and accuse you of fraud.
Go for a Good Medical Evaluation
It is impossible to claim personal injuries without medical records. Even if you do not think that you were hurt during the accident, it is good to seek medical attention as soon as possible because some injuries manifest after a while. You may also have sustained some internal injuries, whiplash, or a concussion that you are not aware of.
Getting a satisfactory medical examination will help rule out or locate such injuries in good time. Your medical records are vital. They will help in negotiating your claim because they are proof of your injuries.
Do Not Settle Too Soon
Personal injury claims take time; therefore, try not to be in a hurry to settle. You might end up with an undervalued settlement. Insurance companies can sometimes make an offer too fast, especially if they know that you have a viable claim. They might make a low offer, and should you accept it, you might not be able to recover your damages. Therefore, if you are working with a lawyer, allow them to build a strong case and use it to negotiate the best settlement possible. Working with a lawyer will also give you time to focus on your recovery.
Talk to a Personal Injury Lawyer About Your Claim
Taking on insurance giants is not an easy task. You need to have someone beside you who has experience in negotiating personal injury settlements. Therefore, if you have a personal injury claim, you should consider hiring a personal injury lawyer to negotiate the claim on your behalf. This way, you will not end up falling for insurers’ tricks or taking a low settlement.
