Filing A Personal Injury Claim After You Are Hurt In An Accident
The decision to file a personal injury claim against a party that causes you injuries may take some time. When you want to protect your ability to file a claim, it's important to start talking to a personal injury attorney early. There are limitations to how long you can wait to file an official claim, and you want to make sure that you file a claim within those limits. To start, you need to establish your injuries and the reason why you sustained them. Stating that you are going to file a claim soon after the accident helps establish that you sustained your injuries from the accident and not from another incident.
Always Take Notes
Whether you are talking to the police about the accident or you go to treatment for your injuries, take notes about your encounter. You will want to remember every detail about the accident and your subsequent treatment. Your own notes will make it easier for you to recollect any details that you have to provide.
Preserve the Evidence You Have
Take pictures of your injuries, your damaged property, and the scene of the accident if you can. While you are recovering from your injuries, take pictures during the process. Take enough pictures so that it is easy to see the scene and anything else you want to describe. If you are hurt because of a broken stair or something of that nature, take plenty of pictures to preserve the evidence.
Talk to Witnesses
If there were witnesses of your accident, you'll want to get the contact information so that you can interview witnesses on your own. While everyone involved will make statements to the authorities that respond to the scene, talking to witnesses yourself and writing down their impression of what happened may help your case.
Seek Medical Treatment Right Away
To get a baseline, you will need to seek medical treatment as soon as possible for your injuries. Continue going to your treatment providers and follow through on all recommendations. When you make an effort and go to treatment, it will be clear that you are serious about your injuries.
When you aren't sure about filing a personal injury claim after sustaining injuries, it won't hurt to start gathering information. Get medical treatment and consult a personal injury attorney to see if you should file a case. You may be able to settle with an insurance company with the help of an attorney and won't have to deal with going to court.
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