by Allan Gregory
Accidents can occur under a wide variety of circumstances, and they can really throw your life into a tailspin. You could have been hurt in a car accident, in a slip-and-fall accident, or by a dangerous product. No matter what type of accident you were injured in, you are bound to be suffering because of it.
You could be dealing with physical pain from serious injuries. You could be immobile right now, unable to work and provide an income for your family. Your injuries could result in permanent issues, such as mobility loss, scarring, or disfigurement. The person who caused all of this difficulty in your life can be held responsible.
The personal injury claim process is how you hold a negligent person accountable for your injuries and damages. Your claim must prove fault as well as the extent of your injuries and damages. Many people turn to a Charlotte personal injury lawyer for assistance so that their claims can be as strong as possible.
There is a way that you can help your attorney. You can strengthen your claim by doing the following things.
How to Strengthen Your Personal Injury Claim
You probably want your claim to reach a successful conclusion, and you may want to be involved in the process. Follow these steps to help your claim succeed, so you can get the financial compensation you need after an accident caused by someone else.
Get Medical Treatment Right Away
One way to improve your claim is to visit the doctor or hospital right away after your accident. You should get treated for your injuries. You will be creating a solid paper trail that can help prove your injury claim. By getting medical help right away, you will be able to prove that your accident was responsible for your injuries, and not some other factor.
Gather Evidence
Evidence is imperative to proving an accident claim, but evidence doesn’t sit around waiting for you to have time to collect it. It’s only there for a short while, so you need to grab it while you can. After your accident, make sure to write down the contact information for witnesses, and take down their statements if you can.
Gather any physical evidence that could prove your case, and take photos and videos of the accident scene. If the police arrive at your accident, obtain the police or accident report.
Start Your Claim Early
Don’t wait too long to begin working on your claim. All states have time limits on how long you can file a personal injury claim after an accident. Some states have very short time frames. North Carolina gives accident victims up to three years to bring a claim, but time passes by quickly.
Plus, the sooner you begin your claim, the stronger your evidence will be. Witnesses lose the sharpness of their memories over time, so their testimony could be weaker the longer you delay. Other evidence could get lost or become corrupted over time. It’s best to start your claim as early as possible.
Don’t Talk to the Insurance Company
Insurance claims adjusters are bound to call you, because they will be working on your case. It’s important for you to be careful when speaking to them. Many people skip talking to them altogether, because your lawyer can communicate with them on your behalf.
If you decide that you want to talk to them, be careful what you say. The insurance adjusters will often try to record your phone conversations, and they can use your words against you. They try to get accident victims to admit to some fault for causing their accidents. In some cases, your claim could be dismissed if you’re found somewhat responsible for your accident.
Keep Careful Records of Your Damages
Your damages are probably the reason you’re looking into filing a personal injury claim. You have likely suffered financial losses as well as non-financial losses.
You could be struggling to pay medical bills or dealing with excruciating physical pain caused by your injury accident. These damages can result in a settlement check for you. In order to receive a full settlement for your damages, you need to document all of them.
Keeping careful records can help your attorney when it’s time to calculate the total value of your claim. They will be able to add up all of your damages, including assigning a value to your non-financial damages. They will then submit a demand letter to the insurance company, requesting they pay you full compensation.
As you can see, you can greatly help improve your personal injury claim.
About the Author
Allan Gregory is an author, designer, engineer, artist, playwright, and comedy writer. His work across multiple disciplines broadly addresses the narratives of human experience. As a playwright, Allan has had his pieces performed at multiple playhouses. As an artist and illustrator, he has had his art exhibited at multiple galleries. His work has appeared on a number of online and offline outlets.
