A car accident can lead to untold pain, suffering, and expenses. But you, the victim, don’t have to shoulder all these alone. Filing a personal injury claim can help you solicit compensation from the at-fault party and get your life back on track.
Filing a car accident personal injury claim isn’t as easy as it sounds. The process has complications and challenges galore. But don’t fret. The car accident lawyers and Jett Accident & Injury Lawyers have tips outlined in this piece that will help you overcome most of these challenges. Without further ado, let’s dive in.
An Overview of Car Accident Personal Injury Claims
Personal injury refers to the physical and psychological harm you, a car accident victim, incur.
With the above in mind, injuries arising from car accidents often run the gamut. A car accident can lead to numerous physical complications, including chest injuries, head injuries, cuts, abrasions, strains, and sprains. Not to forget, psychological issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), debilitating phobias, extreme anxiety, and depression often plague car accident victims.
Car accident victims showing signs of any or a combination of the above-mentioned issues use personal injury claims to demand compensation from the entity responsible for their injuries.
Essential Tips for Filing a Car Accident Personal Injury Claim
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and want to file a personal injury claim and maximize compensation, pay heed to the following:
Seek Medical Attention
Your health and overall well-being are of utmost importance. As such, seeking medical attention immediately after a car accident is imperative.
Seeking medical attention as soon as possible is paramount, whether you have pronounced injuries or don’t and feel ok. Why? Injuries like whiplash often don’t manifest symptoms immediately. So, failure to consult a health expert immediately may encourage hidden issues to aggravate, leading to worse complications like long-term disability.
Additionally, a visit to the doctor helps you document all relevant injuries and current health status. If you delay, proving the extent of your injuries and convincing authorities that you deserve compensation for them will be challenging.
Document Everything
Documentation is key here. Your documents can determine if you’ll get the compensation you deserve or go home empty-handed.
If you want to maximize compensation, ensure you have the following:
- Videos and photos: In an era where smartphones and other portable devices have quality cameras, recording the scene shouldn’t be a problem. Just whip out your gadget and capture as many clear photos and videos as possible.
- Police reports: Police reports are public records in many states. Therefore, depending on the accident site, you can request accident records from the Department Records Unit (DRU) or local law enforcement agencies.
- Medical reports: Medical reports come from the facility where you sought treatment. They primarily outline the care provided and associated expenses.
- Witness statements: After an accident, try gathering witnesses’ contact information, including names, addresses, and mobile numbers. Also, if you find several willing to talk, request their statements and write them down.
- Bills and receipts: Don’t dispose of any bills or receipts related to the car accident. You’ll need them to show the cost of your injuries and backup compensation claim.
- Traffic cameras: A speeding ticket lawyer might warn you… traffic cameras everywhere! Your lawyer may seek to use this footage to further prove up your case.
These are but a few of the essential documents and tools that can be used in your case. To be safer, ensure you have others as well, including your treatment journal, insurance information, and reports of similar incidents.
Avoid Posting the Incident on Social Media
Although you might be tempted to share the incident with friends and family via social media, don’t do it.
Posting the accident and sustained injuries on social media can hurt your case. How so? Insurance adjusters and attorneys often request access to all relevant social media posts at the discovery phase. And they can use your posts to undermine the claim by misconstruing statements or arguing against the severity of injuries.
In addition, refrain from accepting new friend requests, deleting posts, or ranting and raving on other people’s posts.
Hire a Reputable Personal Injury Attorney
State laws don’t bar car accident victims from representing themselves. That being said, working with an experienced personal injury lawyer is highly advisable.
Having a skilled attorney in your corner comes with numerous perks. For starters, the expert will have comprehensive knowledge of all potential damages, your rights, and the makings of fair compensation.
Moreover, a personal injury attorney can guide you through the filing process and help you understand loopy clauses. That is important because a simple misunderstanding or error can cripple your claim.
Most importantly, experienced attorneys like Karlin & Karlin have what it takes to haggle with insurance companies and their representatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I get from a car accident personal Injury claim?
The amount you’ll get from your car accident personal injury claim depends on various factors. These include the incident’s effect on the quality of your life, lost earnings (current and future), and medical expenses (current and future).
What if I don’t want to file a personal injury lawsuit?
If pursuing a personal injury claim in a court of law doesn’t seem viable, you can try alternative routes like arbitration, negotiation, mediation, and conciliation.
