According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 31 million Americans are hospitalized yearly for medical treatment due to general injuries. Moreover, somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 personal injury cases are filed annually in the United States. Considering this huge number, it becomes important to understand a few points that can help you successfully navigate your personal injury claim.
1. Know the type of your Personal Injury Claim
First, you should know your personal injury claim type and the related laws. The most common types of personal injuries include-
- Auto accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Slip and Fall accidents
- Wrongful death
- Dog bites
- Aviation accidents
- Product liability
- Nursing home abuse
- And others
Next, it is important to understand how personal injury claims work to build a strong case. You need to prove that-
- You suffered injuries.
- Your injury was a result of the fault of the other party.
- Your injury could have been prevented if the at-fault party had tried to prevent it.
2. Seek medical treatment
Attorneys at Lmdlawfirm.com say that the biggest mistake many people make after a personal injury is ignoring the immediate requirement of medical treatment. In the case of an accident, it is critical to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. When your body suffers a severe blow from an accident, you might not feel the severity of your injuries because of the adrenaline rush. But even the minor-looking injuries can be the major ones. Do not try to be self-treated and visit doctors as their statements and medical prescriptions are perceived with a higher value by judges.
The medical records and treatment bills serve as the medical evidence required to build your case strong.
3. Arrange for settlement lawsuit funding
Lawsuit funding allows the plaintiffs to borrow money from several designated parties. If you have a strong case and a huge chance of winning, borrowing money seems a good idea.
A settlement lawsuit finding is a process of obtaining immediate funds and financial advance payment for a pending settlement or the jury verdict in court. These loans have helped several personal injury plaintiffs in the United States. You can search for authentic litigation funding providers and take help from your attorney. Before finalizing a provider, always compare their interest rates and check their terms and conditions.
4. Look for the right evidence
Reliable and strong evidence is the basis of any lawsuit. You must present your case with strong proof and facts supporting your side of the story in court. The evidence in personal injury claims includes-
- Medical treatment records and bills
- Police Report
- Videos and pictures of the site
- Clothes you were wearing at the time of the accident
- CCTV footage
- Statements from the witnesses
This evidence will help you prove the extent of your damage and also help in calculating the settlement amount.
5. Avoid being active on social media
After an accident, it is common to make mistakes and start communicating about the accident on social media. Insurers are smart and use several clever tactics to avoid paying you money. If your social media handle shows that you are doing fine, you can get into serious trouble. They can use any of your posts or stories later in the court as evidence to counter-prove your claim. It is best to avoid using social media as much as possible.
The defendant’s insurance company may also frequently contact you and pretend that they want to help. However, all they want from you is any statement that may later harm your case. We recommend avoiding all interactions with insurance companies without consulting your lawyer. Always speak with caution and try not to reveal anything that they could later use against you.
Conclusion
Many personal injury victims avoid seeking legal counsel because of the legal fees involved. But this is a big mistake. Without complete legal knowledge and a lawyer’s assistance, you might make several mistakes and miss many deadlines, which can risk your case. Once the case is not built strong from the start, you risk losing your case later, even with an attorney’s help.
Many lawyers do not charge fees upfront and take a proportion from the settlement amount they win for you.