Filing a Personal Injury Claim? What You Need to Know

If you were injured in a car accident and want to file a personal injury claim, there are things you should know ahead of time. There could be mistakes that you have made that could hinder your claim. Read on for tips to help you if you think you have a personal injury claim.

Don't Sign Anything

You'll probably get calls from the other party's insurance company, or you may get paperwork sent to you. An agent may even show up to your home with paperwork. Do not sign anything at all. If you sign paperwork and don't read through it, you may be signing off on a settlement and not even know it. Don't sign anything without either reading through it properly yourself or taking it to your personal injury attorney to have them read it. Never just sign any paperwork.

Don't Admit Fault

If you admitted fault at the site of the accident, you may not have a claim to file. Do not admit fault at all or apologize for the accident after it occurs. Admitting fault or apologizing may make the accident appear to be your fault. The officer writing up the police report is in charge of figuring out who is at fault—not you.

Find a Reputable Attorney

Find a reputable attorney that specializes in personal injury. Ask around for references, and ask the attorney about their success rate with personal injury claims. You can usually make an appointment for a consultation to discuss the accident and find out if they think you have a good case. If you were offered a settlement, the attorney may advise that the offer is a good one, or they may advise you that the offer given isn't enough. 

Keep All of Your Records

Keep all of your records from the accident and any and all medical bills from the accident as well. Also keep track of medical appointments or dates and times when you had to miss work for either recovery time or for medical appointments due to the accident. All of these things can be included in your claim. Time and money lost, as well as money owed or paid out for medical bills or for repair bills, can all be included in the claim. Organize your bills and information in a binder and add to it as needed.

If you have been injured in an accident and think you have a case, find an attorney to discuss your case and be sure to keep track of all of your records. Talk to a personal injury attorney about your case and get the compensation you deserve.

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