Filing a personal injury claim may not be as easy as it sounds since several things can go astray. Finding the best attorney, keeping up with the medical paperwork, and submitting everything into the right hands can be stressful steps to any claim process.
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s carelessness or defective products, you need to seek compensation for your damages or losses. Whether it is lost wages or medical bills, your compensation claims should be adequate to facilitate your full recovery.
The good news is that there are identifiable ways to get the most out of your injury claim, so understanding what you have control over can help maximize your compensation amount. Here are some ways to help kick start your compensation process.
Step #1: Hire an Attorney
If you’re suffering from a severe injury as a result of an accident or someone’s negligence, you should carefully choose the right lawyer to represent your case. The benefits of selecting a professional attorney cannot be overlooked. The level of skills and experience vary from one lawyer to the other and can significantly influence the outcome of your case.
Before you can sign an agreement with your lawyer, it is essential to determine if they have the necessary skills to handle your specific case. While general practitioners deal with a wide range of legal issues, some lawyers specialize in personal injury matters. There are many reputable sites like www.lawyerschwartz.com where you can hire a qualified and specialized attorney to represent you.
Step #2: Seek Immediate Medical Treatment
Your treatment is one of the critical factors when determining the value of your compensation. To win your injury claim, you need to seek proper and accurate treatment plans that include tests and therapy. Your treatment plan can help compel evidence of your losses. However, if you fail to follow your doctor’s recommendations or treatment orders, the defense can use that as evidence in court.
Step #3: Keep All Bills and Evidence
The amount of evidence you present in court is what will help determine the direction of your case. The jury will make decisions based on the evidence presented by both parties, so the more you can do to keep proof, the better for your claim. Make sure you keep a proper record, including photos and copies of:
- The accident scene
- Your injuries
- Bill records
- A list of witnesses
Your lawyer can also help ensure that you make copies of police reports if there are any.
Step #4: File Your Claim as Soon as Possible
Filing your claim as soon as possible is vital because there is a time limit to file a case after it happens. Therefore, if you wait for too long, you may run out of time, which may affect the strength of your case. You should begin filing your lawsuit as early as possible so that you can start gathering evidence officially, which enables you to preserve necessary information for your case.
Step #5: Get Your Claim Professionally Valued
While it might seem easier to navigate through the process of valuing your claims, it’s better to seek the help of a professional attorney. The truth is that lawyers have been in these types of situations more than you have, so they’ve built vast experience on the right process to help value a claim. A qualified attorney can help you determine the crucial steps necessary to get the most out of your settlement claim and build your case to pursue fair compensation.
Step #6: Don’t Forget to Account for Future Costs
An accident can cause both immediate and prolonged injuries. The chance that your injuries may not have recovered even before your claim goes for trial is very likely. That’s why it makes sense to consider your future recovery while negotiating your settlement claims. In doing so, you’ll also need to work along with medical service providers to document losses.
Step #7: Don’t Be Afraid to Reject the Initial Offer
If you feel that the first offer proposed to you is not worth the injuries or losses accrued, don’t be afraid to reject it. Remember that you need to maximize your compensation claims to help you get the best recovery and get back to your healthy life. Remember to always consult your attorney for the best advice on what you should take and what you shouldn’t.
If You Reject the Offer, Explain Why It’s Too Low or Unfair
When you reject an offer, it’s essential to explain to the other party why you’re not willing to take the proposed amount. If the amount is insufficient, your lawyer will help you back up your claim with proper documentation to reinforce your case.
Step #8: Be Aware of the Tax Implications When Structuring Your Settlement
Taxes can create a significant impact on your compensation amount. Before you can build your case, be sure to talk to your personal injury lawyer about various tax implications on your case. This will guide you when structuring a settlement. Your lawyer will also help you research different tax requirements to ensure you abide by the necessary tax regulations as presented by different relevant bodies.
