Being the victim in a personal injury situation in Houston is rarely an easy road. This becomes even more of a problem if the situation is such that the injury sustained reduces what was a higher quality of life. Perhaps it's no longer possible to work because of the injury.
If the cause was another party's negligence, then the victim could file a compensation claim. Be that as it may, the process of going through personal injury claims is not the most straightforward thing in the world. From dealing with a ruthless insurance company to understanding elements of litigation and more, it's not an easy road.
Thankfully, with the help of the best injury attorney in Houston, it becomes much easier. Still, there are things the victim can do to make winning the claim more likely, which is what will be covered below.
Understanding What Constitutes a Personal Injury Claim
Essentially, once someone is injured because of another party's actions or lack of appropriate action, a personal injury case may be in the cards. The party, in this case, could be an individual, a company, or even the state.
Coming out on top after going through the personal injury claims process requires proving that the injury occurred, the effects of the injury, and that the injury is the result of a phenomenon caused by the negligence of the other party.
Once a fair settlement is awarded, it will compensate the victim for areas such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other applicable areas.
Tips to Help You Win Personal Injury Cases
With the introductory segment out of the way, it's now time to focus on what the victim can and should do after a car accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, or other personal injury suit type. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys will help go over defenses in personal injury cases.
Get Medical Treatment
Sometimes people will not take this step because they "feel fine" immediately after the accident. Take a car crash, for example. Bear in mind that there will be elements such as adrenaline that may be at play. Even beyond that, it's essential to remember that what is felt on the outside is not always representative of what is going on on the inside.
The most important reason for getting looked at by a medical professional is simply taking care of oneself. However, it also confirms the extent of injuries and will generate the bills that go towards treatment. These will form a part of the injury claim since there will need to be proof of both the injuries sustained and the medical expenses that have come about as a result.
Evidence Is Your Friend
A lack of evidence can break a personal injury lawsuit, which is unfortunate for the victim who may need the compensation to be able to live something even remotely close to a normal life again. Not only does evidence help to clarify how severe the injury is, but it also helps to catalog developments as time moves on from the time it happened.
Note that it's important to collect the right kinds of evidence to support you through the process, and what falls under this umbrella will depend on the kind of accident that happened. For example, in a car accident, some of the important elements are:
Photographs of the scene
Medical records
Witness statements
CCTV footage
Contact details of witnesses and others involved in the accident
Payslips to demonstrate the amount of income lost
Thankfully, a seasoned personal injury lawyer can help to clarify which points of evidence will be useful.
Avoid Insurance Companies at the Onset
This one may sound a bit counterintuitive. After all, isn't the insurance adjuster there to be helpful and evaluate things so you can get the compensation that you deserve? It's normal to think that this is the case, but unfortunately, things are more cutthroat than you could ever imagine.
Realistically, the insurance claim process, from the perspective of the negligent party, is one in which the goal is to pay the victim as little as possible or nothing at all.
Insurance companies will typically have the same goal, which means that everything they do is to meet this requirement. Therefore, if an insurance company calls a victim "to find out if they're doing OK," the reality is the desire is to get the victim to say that all feels well so it can be used against them if they should try to claim compensation later.
Assume that this is the objective of everything an insurance company does and refuse to speak with them unless an attorney is present.
Make a Report to the Police
A police report is often another key part of the puzzle if the aim is to win the personal injury claim process. Therefore, one of the first orders of business should be to visit the relevant station and provide a statement so the report will be available later when the attorney needs it.
Call an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney as Soon as Possible
This isn't even just about filing the claim itself. A seasoned attorney knows the do's and don'ts of the process and will likely give you information that will help you to understand what you should do and what to avoid to improve your chances of winning the claim when the time comes. They can explain mediation of personal injury claims as well.
Resist the Social Media Urge
It can be tempting to post just about anything that happens on social media, but an injured person should avoid even mentioning the accident on social media just to be safe. A simple statement such as "met in an accident today, but I'm alive and well" can turn into something the defendant's attorney will use to try to imply that your injuries aren't as bad as you make them out to be.
Schedule a Free Consultation with an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer Today!
Dealing with a personal injury claim is nothing short of a nightmare, especially given the fact that you need to balance the effects that the ordeal has had on you.
If someone else was negligent, there's no reason you should have to suffer. At Schuerger Shunnarah, we have a team of seasoned personal injury attorneys who are ready to go to war for you! Schedule your free consultation today.
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