5 Steps to Claiming Compensation for a Personal Injury

Picture: Claimaccident 

If you find yourself involved in an incident or accident caused by someone else, there’s every reason to consider speaking to a lawyer. Your pain and suffering, medical costs, lost income, and other losses may all come at a high price to your lifestyle. There’s no reason why you should be carrying the burden of an accident for which someone else is to blame. However, not everyone knows what to do next. If you’ve decided to take legal action, here are the next five steps you may need to take. 

Step 1: Collect As Much Evidence As Possible

Your journey to possible compensation begins at the very location of the incident. Before getting quality personal injury law advice, gather as much information from the accident scene as you can. A police report, photos, and witness contact information may all prove incredibly important when you decide to file a personal injury claim. 

Step 2: Seek Medical Assistance

At the accident scene, one of the most important things to do is make sure everyone involved is okay. Call emergency services to secure the scene and provide assistance to those who need it. Even if you don’t feel like you’ve sustained any injuries, see a doctor anyway. With adrenaline coursing through your veins, you might not be aware of any injuries until hours or even days later. What’s more, failure to see a doctor may mean your insurance provider argues any injuries or poor health aren’t related to your accident.    

Step 3: Work With a Lawyer

When you’re experiencing financial hardship from an accident, the costs of hiring a lawyer may put you off going down the legal road. However, in many cases, you can leave your savings account untouched. 

Many lawyers operate on a contingency fee basis, which means they only get paid when you get paid. They take a percentage of your compensation in exchange for representing you. After gathering evidence and seeing a doctor, phoning a personal injury lawyer may be a worthwhile next step. 

Step 4: Keep a Low Profile  

Your lawyer will fight for the compensation you rightfully deserve. The opposing side’s lawyer is fighting for their client, too. They may be looking for ammunition to disprove your claim, so don’t give it to them. Stay away from social media and refrain from posting anything online in any capacity that could be used against you. For example, if you are seeking compensation for pain and suffering, don’t be in a hurry to post photos online of you enjoying time with your friends. 

Step 5: Don’t Wait to File  

If you’ve been waiting for the ‘right time’ to file your personal injury claim, then let that time be now. Each state has a statute of limitations that dictates how much time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long to file, you may find yourself having to rush through the process, which may impact your entitlements.   

After suffering significant loss as a result of an incident or accident, you may be entitled to compensation. However, you may stand the best chance of receiving it by following these five steps above.