If you’ve been hurt in an accident, it’s imperative to take action in ensuring that justice has been served. It’s unquestionably evident that you’ve been through a lot, lost a lot, and don’t forget about the pain that came with it. On the face of it, the party at fault needs to be held accountable and compensate you for your pain and suffering. But it’s not always as easy as it sounds. Whether or not it proceeds to court, the prospects of dealing with a personal injury case can be a daunting experience, if not a frustrating one. Dealing with insurance companies, for instance, can be overwhelming and the processes involved in pursuing your personal injury claim may seem like a never-ending story. In actual sense, those who opt to go it alone without an attorney give up half the process.
Now, to make the most of your claim and maximize your compensation, there are a few distinctive things you must do. But first things first. You need to understand all the aspects and important details of your injury case. This allows you to first, make a full recovery, and second, to get the best settlement. Tort law, as they call it within the halls of justice, is an extensive part of civil law that if without the right strategy and direction could mean disaster to your claim. This is why you need to work with an experienced personal injury attorney. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the things you need to prepare for your personal injury claim.
1. The Evidence
When pursuing a personal injury claim after an accident, you are required to have evidence to support your claims. This may include photos taken at the scene of the accident, showing the damages and your injuries if possible, witness records bearing contact information and addresses, and a police report among other things. By looking at the evidence provided, the jury can arrive at a ruling in your case with ease and there is a higher chance that you’ll get the best settlement based on the strength of the evidence. So, by all means, it’s imperative that you preserve the evidence from the scene of the accident.
2. An Experienced Attorney
It’s most likely that you’ve never been through a lawsuit process and if you have, you might be familiar with the intricacies involved in one. By speaking with an experienced attorney from your state, city, or local area, you’ll know exactly what to expect and they’ll also help to guide you through the entire process. As earlier established, insurance claim cases can be overwhelming. Assuming you come from the Bluegrass State, you would want to consult with a Kentucky personal injury lawyer who has commendable experience to help you in preparing the best personal injury claim according to Billy Johnson, a seasoned KY lawyer in personal injury law. He adds that working with an attorney in your personal injury claim will guarantee you of the best settlement to facilitate the healing and recovery process as well as damages such as lost income and disability.
One thing to note is that litigation does help in creating awareness and improving safety for others. But then again, this can only be achieved when you partner with the best law firm. In pursuit of your claim, injury attorney can help you with:
- Obtaining insurance copies and other insurance information
- Sending letters of representation to insurance companies
- Contacting witnesses
- Preparing medical bills
- Round the clock representation
While different legal practitioners may have different preferences on how they organize their personal injury cases, you can still expect a streamlined process that is geared towards finding you the best settlement or compensation.
3. A Written Account of Your Experience
Remembering can be tricky, especially when you try to recount what transpired after an accident some weeks or months later. It gets even more difficult considering that you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident. Where possible, it’s very important to prepare an account of what you experienced during the accident while it’s relatively fresh in your mind. A detailed account will go a long way in supporting your evidence as well as when being questioned or when giving your statement.
Additionally, it’s very important that when preparing your personal injury case, you document an account of the changes you’ve experienced after the accident. This may include things such as the fact that you’re no longer able to provide for your family due to the injuries sustained, loss of work, things you can no longer do, pain, or family breaks up, just to name a few. Be sure to specify all these in your account as they’ll make a huge difference in your personal injury compensation case.
4. Important Documents
Building your personal injury case requires that you arm yourself with all the right documents. You’ll, of course, after the accident, need to be seen by several medical professionals. In addition to this, you’ll need several documents related to the accident and its aftermath. For instance, insurance adjusters will need your medical records, which they’ll deeply assess to determine whether the claim is true or false. This means gathering all the medical bills and doctor reports, police reports, letters from the insurers, and other out of pocket expenses. With these important documents, your attorney can pressure the other party into offering you the best settlement. You don’t want the other side to low ball your settlement for lack of the aforementioned documents.
5. A Good Impression
Who said that a good impression doesn’t count in a personal injury case? This doesn’t mean appearing in court in a suit and tie! A good impression means being polite, kind, and respectful while at the same time looking your best. The jury’s decision will be based on what is said and what they see in you during the trial period. By putting your best foot forward, the jury may be inclined to sympathize with you, a small effort that can make a huge difference in your personal injury case.
You’ve heard it said that anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. This couldn’t be any truer considering the things that people say on social media even after an accident. It’s therefore recommended that before trial or settlement, you stay off all social media platforms.
Personal injury cases are legal battles that can drain you physically, financially, and emotionally. If you’re therefore geared for one, it’s important to have all your facts prepared in good time. Given your condition and state of mind, self-representation isn’t the best decision. Thankfully, an experienced personal injury attorney can help to explain the legal options available to you and how to best prepare for the best settlement.