There are many different types of accidents that can create injuries. In some cases, the injury is due to someone else’s negligence, as in the case of a car crash where you were not at fault and someone else was. There are also cases that could have been prevented by other people, such as a case where you were bitten by a dog who was left unleashed by his or her owner. If you are the victim of one of these types of injuries that was the result of an accident, you might want to consult with an attorney to see what your options are.
There are many ramifications that come from an accident injury. This is why it might be a good idea to contact the right attorney when you are in the situation. For example, if you have been bitten by a dog or another household pet, you might want to contact an animal attack injury attorney. Outside of talking to an attorney, you want to make sure that you are getting the right accident injury care, whether you are experiencing accident pain after a car wreck or some other type of after accident body pain that is debilitating.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was another driver’s fault, you may need to consider filing an auto accident injury claim. According to the Bureau of Justice, 52% of personal injury lawsuits are filed in response to auto accidents. This process may seem overwhelming, especially since you should be focusing on taking care of your health; however, car accident compensation may be necessary to cover the medical costs, lost wages and associated financial drains caused by the accident. Here are the steps you need to take for a successful claim.
- Call the Police:
Even if your accident seems minor initially, you should always call the police after a collision. One reason for this is that you’ll want a copy of that police report—including the officer’s opinion of who was at fault—if you decide to file an accident injury claim. - Collect Evidence:
Collect photos of the accident, as well as documentation of your medical and other expenses. Keep detailed logs with dates and contact information. - Write Notification Letters:
Once you’ve determined who might be at fault, you should write letters indicating you intend to file a claim. If the other driver was not the owner of the car, you may need to write more than one letter. - File a Claim:
Though there is no particular timeline on which you need to notify people, you do have a limited amount of time to file a claim. This will be covered by your state’s statute of limitations on personal injury claims. - Determine MMI:
If you need to have medical expenses covered, you’ll need to work with your doctor to determine whether you have reached “maximum medical improvement.” This basically assesses whether you have recovered as much as possible. While you don’t need to wait to file a claim, you won’t be able to determine the appropriate damages without understanding MMI and getting an expert to estimate long-term care costs. - Reach a Settlement:
Once you’ve determined a fair amount, you can negotiate and accept a fair settlement. Only 2% of personal injury lawsuits go to court in the U.S., so it’s likely you’ll be able to resolve the situation outside the courtroom.
If this process is too much for you to handle alone, you may want to consider contacting auto injury attorneys experienced in personal injury law who can guide you through the legal system and make sure you’re being treated fairly. Read more blogs like this.
