Once you’ve decided to submit a personal injury claim, you’ll want to do all you can to maximize the amount of money you might get. Making sure you receive enough compensation is an important component of making a full recovery.
What you do following your accident is important, and there are several things you may do to maximize your claim. Knowing what areas of your injury case you have influence over will help you receive the most money possible. Here are some tips for making your injury claim more valuable.
Preserve Evidence
The evidence will be used by the jury to decide on your case. The other party will determine whether or not to offer you a fair settlement based on the strength of your case. That means the more you can do to protect evidence, the more likely you are to win your case. If you’re able, photograph the accident site as well as your immediate injuries. The same applies to criminal compensation, without exception. Attempting to collect a list of witnesses’ names and contact information is critical. You should receive a copy of the police report as soon as possible if one exists. This material can be used by your injury lawyer to gather thorough witness testimonies and prepare the case.
Get Medical Treatment
Even if you don’t think you need it, seek medical attention and go to an emergency room. The ER inspections and treatment will not only help you recuperate faster, but they will also be the sole means to correctly document the harm caused by your vehicle accident.
When discussing the merits of your injury claim, your medical record is the single most significant piece of evidence you have. You may videotape as much personal testimony as you want and take as many photos as you want, but without genuine doctor’s reports, putting a financial tag on your injuries will be difficult.
Before you schedule a legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer, ensure that you have all the necessary medical documents to support your claim. However, if you need help obtaining medical records, your injury attorney may ask to have a letter written permitting them to obtain the records.
Reject the First Offer
Patience is rewarded! When you’re healing after an injury, it may seem hard to wait for an acceptable insurance settlement, but it’s worth it. Try to be patient even though you’re in excruciating pain, amassing massive medical bills, and missing work.
It’s tempting to accept the first offer and call it a day. However, you will almost certainly not receive the full amount of compensation you deserve if you do so.
Examine the figures. A single emergency department visit can cost more than $3,000 on average, and a single day of inpatient care might be even more expensive. That isn’t even taking into consideration the cost of long-term care.
You also have the value of your lost wages, which might be thousands of dollars. Not to mention the fact that you’re still dealing with mental health issues and trauma! All of this adds up to tens of thousands of dollars, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars. Insurance companies are attempting to avoid having to pay you this money, which may appear to be a dreadful situation. They’re banking on your desire for a quick rather than fair payment. They want you to take the first offer since it benefits them while hurting you.
Keep Your Case Private
Understandably, you’d want to tell your friends and family about your accident. When you’re trying to maximize the value of your injury claim, the last thing you need is for your own words to backfire. That is why, following an accident, lawyers always advise clients to avoid using social media.
Things you say today may come back to bite you later. Anything you publish on social media will be accessible to the at-fault party’s representatives. This includes any photos, videos, information, or opinions you provide. Even something as seemingly innocuous as uploading a photo of yourself smiling at a family birthday celebration after your injury might be used against you as if to say, “As you can see in this photo, she looks to be in excellent form!”
So, when in doubt, keep your mouth shut online. Before you post anything, consult with your lawyer and notify them of any previous posts.
Don’t Stop Building Your Case
Even if your lawsuit never gets to trial, making the effort to develop your case carefully can maximize your damages. Serving discovery demands on the opposing party and having your attorney conduct depositions or obtain records are all part of this case preparation. You may need to see a variety of medical providers, and your attorney may need to consult with additional experts to strengthen your case.
Having a solid case ready for trial might put pressure on the responsible party to make a reasonable settlement offer. If the opposing side detects that you aren’t putting in the necessary effort to construct your case, they are more inclined to undercut your settlement offer.
Nobody likes to be a part of any type of harm, but if you’re already in that terrible situation, you may as well make the most of it. So have a look at these few compensation options that will undoubtedly assist you—and remember to consult your lawyer before making any decisions!
markmunroe
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