When someone else is careless and you wind up hurt, you have the legal right to file a personal injury lawsuit. This allows you to recover compensation for the losses you’ve experienced due to the negligence of another.
However, personal injury laws are complex. This comprehensive guide will help you find your footing and learn what to do following a personal injury accident.
What to Do After Suffering a Personal Injury
A personal injury can come in the form of accidents like a car crash, slip and fall, construction accident, or dog bite. Knowing what to do afterward can help you build a solid case against the negligent party.
However, each area of personal injury law has its own intricacies. It’s always best to work with an attorney who specializes in personal injury law, particularly in the area that applies to your injury. For example, if you were in a car accident, you would want to work with a lawyer who has represented other car accident victims rather than one who has only handled cases involving medical malpractice.
Regardless of what type of accident you were in, you should try to collect as much evidence as possible. The injured party — or plaintiff — has the burden of showing that the other party was negligent. The more evidence you have to prove negligence, the better chance you have of collecting compensation.
Examples of Evidence in a Personal Injury Claim
The kinds of evidence you will present in your personal injury claim will depend on the incident. For example, in a car accident, you will want to have photos and videos of the accident scene. Getting this is crucial before the vehicles are moved out of the way. Witness contact information can also be beneficial as they can detail what happened. In most car accidents, you’ll be calling the police, and the police report is another piece of evidence you can use.
However, if your injuries were so serious that you couldn’t collect any evidence at the scene, hiring an attorney as soon as possible can help. Your attorney can get the surveillance videos from traffic cameras or nearby businesses to serve as evidence. They can also work from the police report and speak to witnesses while the events are still fresh in their minds.
What Could Harm Your Personal Injury Lawsuit?
If you were hurt because of someone’s negligence, you don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize your case. You should get medical treatment immediately and keep all records to document your damages. Additionally, following all the medical advice you are given with these injuries is crucial in cementing your case.
You never want to give any recorded statements without a lawyer present. You also don’t want to accept any settlement offer without having a lawyer calculate the full extent of your damages. Many injury victims lose out on the money they deserve by not being aware of the compensation they can seek.
