A personal injury claim affects not only the victim of the accident but also their family and friends. Such cases cause physical and emotional pain to the people involved. A personal injury claim or case is a legal dispute that arises when the recklessness or negligence of one person leads to another person getting hurt.
They include car accidents, work-related accidents, medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, birth injuries, etc. Personal injury accidents usually lead to injuries like broken bones, whiplash, burns, fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, and even death. In addition, some of these injuries lead to permanent disabilities.
In this article, we would be educating you on how to file a personal injury claim. This will help you prepare your mind for the process ahead. It would be best if you informed a skilled personal injury attorney about filing your claim.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to File a Personal Injury Claim
In a personal injury case, you get compensation for your losses and damages. If you do not carry out the following steps carefully, you might risk losing the compensation for these damages.
Report the Incident
The first step you need to carry in filing a personal injury claim is to report the claim. The police should be your first point of contact after an accident that gets you injured. When the police are aware of your case, it will strengthen your chances of getting just compensation.
You should also report the incident to your insurance company and the party at fault in the accident. This is because, in some instances, the insurance companies will be responsible for paying your settlement.
Seek Medical Care
Getting medical care after a personal injury accident is the next step when filing a claim. Some injuries do not appear immediately after the accident, because some are internal. So, just because you do not feel pain or see any external injuries does not mean you are safe. If you fail to go to the hospital, the fault party’s insurance company might claim that the injury was not severe since you didn’t get medical care.
Contact an Experienced Injury Attorney
There are times you can settle personal injury claims on your own. For instance, if the accident was a minor one and you walked away with little to no injuries, you may not need an attorney. However, in cases where the accident and injuries were significant, you may need the services of a personal injury lawyer. Your attorney knows and understands the legal process. Therefore, they will ensure you get the best settlement.
Determine If Your Case Is Valid
The law does not consider all injuries to be valid as personal injury cases. Therefore, before you file a case, you should determine if you qualify to file for the claim.
Ask yourself these questions to determine the validity of your claim:
- Was my injury a result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness?
- Was there any unjust conduct before, during, or after the incident?
- Are there high medical bills because of my injury?
- Was there property damage?
Gather Evidence and Information
Evidence is exceptionally essential in a personal injury claim. The availability or unavailability of proof determines the success of your case. This proof will show the fault party’s negligence, the seriousness of your injuries, and the damages you incurred. Your attorney can also help in gathering evidence and speaking to eyewitnesses.
Negotiate a Settlement
You mustn’t negotiate with insurance companies without having a legal backup because your attorney knows the value or worth of your claim. Thus, they would not let you settle for anything less than you deserve. Some cases get settled at this stage because the insurance company or fault party agrees to pay the settlement. However, if the case is not settled, you’ll move on to the next step.
File the Lawsuit
The last step in filing a lawsuit is filing it. The filing process is not a walk-over, especially without assistance, so ensure you work with an injury attorney.
An Injury Attorney from Injured CT Will Help You With Your Case
In filing your personal injury claim, we have talked about how important it is for you to have a professional and experienced personal injury attorney on your side. At Injured CT, we provide you with swift and efficient service; this is the meaning of our name, after all.
Our trusted and experienced personal injury lawyers provide our clients with aggressive legal aid to bring about results you will be pleased with. We are located in Connecticut, but you can reach us from anywhere, 24/7. Therefore, contact us right now.