Being in an accident can leave you confused, distraught or even afraid. After you’ve been in an accident, your first thought is usually to call your loved ones to inform them of what has just occurred.
Well, slow down and save yourself first. Call 911, and get them to send medical help while the police take down a report of what happened and how it occurred, including eye-witnesses account as well as calling to inform your personal injury attorney.
The steps you take after an accident are very important. They are the steps that determine if you will be paid your compensation claims and how much or how little the claims may amount to.
Be Willing and Ready to Provide Evidence
If you have been severely injured, be sure that you will find pictures or videos of the incident which had been taken by an eyewitness, never feel ashamed to bring this to the fore.
The jury will need some sort of evidence. This means that if you have evidence that you or the police have preserved from the accident scene at the time of the incident, then you need to submit it. This will improve your chance of winning the case.
File as Soon as You Can
Depending on your state of residence or the nature of your injury, you have a certain period of time within which you can file a personal injury case so as to preserve the claim.
Once a case reaches expiration, it is considered void. In some states, personal injury claims can be valid for as long as four years, while others have a shorter statute of limitations. Whatever the case, accident and personal injury cases are best handled as soon as the incident occurs.
Know Your Planned Settlement Amount
You should have an amount in mind for possible settlement. If you don’t speak to your personal injury attorney about it. They have their way around these things and know how to come up with a fair number.
Always consult your attorney before accepting any offer. This is a surefire way to make sure you’re not lowballed or underpaid. As a rule, don’t take whatever an insurance company offers you the first time. The only time to break this rule is if they exceed your estimated projections.
Know the Worth of Your Compensation Claim
You should consult an experienced Personal Injury Attorney Manhattan NYC who will assist you to value the cost of damages and show you the value of your compensation claim.
With the assistance of a personal injury attorney, you can claim compensation for emotional damages or the loss of body parts. You need to be aware that you are not limited to suing for one type of damage, you can sue for several damages so as to get the full value of your claim.
Adequately Prepare Your Case
Having a strong case is all you need to be adequately compensated for damages caused by the accident. It could be a workplace accident, product malfunction, slip and fall, truck/car accident, etc.
To carefully prepare your case, you need to serve discovery demands to the at-fault party, have your medical reports ready, have your witnesses ready, file all necessary documents, but most importantly, present all evidence. If your case is adequately prepared, the at-fault party is likely to give you a mouthwatering offer.
Keep the Details
These days it’s so easy to know what someone is going through because they always post updates of the occurrences in their lives on social media. When you have been in an accident that is likely going to go to trial, you need to keep some details to yourself.
Doing this protects you from having the other party to use some stuff you posted on social media against you. Keep the details of your next move a secret, you can’t claim to have been severely injured by the incident and go on a skiing trip while posting pictures on social media, this will definitely destroy your case.
Make Sure the Settlement is Documented
As soon as you reach an agreement with the at-fault party/ his attorney or insurance company, with the input of your personal injury attorney, there should be a letter to the at-fault party/ his attorney or insurance company stating the terms of the agreement. This is to make sure that both of the concerned parties are in agreement with the stated terms. If your case goes to trial, you need your attorney to present the case in the best light. But most importantly, you need to make a good impression before the jury by appearing in court when you should, being neatly dressed, responding politely after you’ve been spoken to, and basically putting your best foot forward.