When you get into an accident, slip and fall at a restaurant or hurt yourself on another person’s property, you are likely looking at a personal injury claim. Personal injury encompasses many things and a skilled personal injury attorney will walk you through the process and how you can maximize your compensation. But, there are things you should consider doing before filing your claim to ensure you get everything you deserve.
Always Accept Medical Help
Even if you feel you were not badly injured, it is always smart to see a doctor directly after your accident if you plan to file a claim. Many injuries do not show up right away and with adrenaline running high after an accident, most injuries will not be noticeable to you until it is too late. Instead of running the risk of not being able to include all of your injuries in a claim, head to a doctor or hospital so you can have everything on file and ensure that you are properly cared for.
Get Copies of All Reports
Before you leave the hospital or doctor, ask for a copy of your medical records. You may also want to ask the police officer on duty for a copy of his police report so you have everything ready to hand over to your attorney. In addition to these reports, try to get witness statements from others who may have been at the scene and take pictures of the car, person or property involved in the accident. All of these things will help your attorney with your personal injury case.
Call the Police
You may not think you need the police to get involved, but if you were hurt or anything was damaged, you are going to want to have a police report underlining exactly what happened. Different people can have different memories and give different accounts of what occurred, so having an unbiased officer explain to the attorneys and the insurance company what happened will forgo any confusion and avoid back and forth.
Know When an Insurance Company Isn’t Cooperating
Insurance companies work hard to pay out the least amount of money possible. This often results in them delaying your claim, denying it without a just reason or giving you the run-around so you give up and take a lower offer. It’s important to know if this is happening to you so you can get your attorney involved and avoid getting less compensation than you deserve.
Hire a Good Attorney
At the end of the day, a personal injury claim can take a lot out of a person, especially someone who just went through a traumatic experience and is now dealing with the aftermath. Hiring the right attorney will help you avoid all of the legal matters that come with a personal injury case so you can focus on your recovery and getting back to your normal life.
If you were injured in an accident, contact Stewart & Stewart to learn more about how we can help you file a claim and get the compensation you deserve. For more information, give us a call at 1-800-33-33-LAW or visit our website for more information.