The Process Of Filing A Personal Injury Claim
If you have been involved in an accident where you were injured at the fault of another, then you are going to have to file a personal injury claim. This is going to ensure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries, such as compensation for medical bills, as well as lost income. In order to receive the best possible outcome, you should consider hiring an accident lawyer. Your accident lawyer will help guide you in the steps, but it's still helpful to know what those steps are so that you know what to expect. Here's how the process typically works:
Gather Evidence:
The first thing that your lawyer is going to want to do is gather evidence to prove that you were not at fault for the accident. This evidence can include photographs of the injuries and location where the indecent occurred, as well as witness statements. If witness statements weren't gathered at the scene, then your lawyer may need to go out and find witnesses who can make official statements.
Recover from Injuries:
Before your lawyer can actually start the process of filing your claim, your doctor must release you from their care, as well as state that you have recovered or at least are stabilized from your injury. It is not until this point that your lawyer can actually gather up medical bills and records. Besides, you want to be fully recovered from your injury in order to know exactly how much compensation you need for your medical bills.
Receive an Offer:
Once your lawyer has gathered the evidence, as well as medical records, they will send it to the insurer of the opposite party. Once the insurance company receives this information, they will send out an offer for a settlement. It's up to you and your lawyer's discretion to determine whether or not this offer is acceptable. If not, then you can begin negotiating.
File a Lawsuit:
Sometimes, your accident lawyer will not easily be able to negotiate with the insurance company, in which case it is best to proceed by filing a lawsuit. The insurance company will have a certain amount of time to respond and then your case will be sent to trail, in which a judge will determine the fair amount of compensation to be paid to you.
Since the process can be extended all the way to having to file for a lawsuit, it is always best to be prepared and have an accident lawyer by your side who can help you through each of these lengthy steps.