Suffering a personal injury can be scary, but it is always important to try and keep calm. The steps you take following a personal injury can affect the amount of compensation that you will get after filling a personal injury claim.
Continue reading to find out the best approach to hiring an attorney in Greenville SC following an injury that results in bodily injury.
Step 1: Seek Medical Attention
The first step should always be to see a doctor; even if you are feeling okay. Getting immediate medical care is not just good for your health, but it adds weight to your personal injury claim: If you wait for weeks before seeking medical care, it will be extremely hard to prove that your injuries were the results of an accident.
Step 2: Keep All Records, Take Photos and Detailed Notes.
Keep detailed notes on your medical treatment and injuries to help you get adequate compensation. Write down the names and addresses of all of the following people that you visit;
- Chiropractors
- Doctors
- Physical therapists
- Any other professional you were referred to after the accident
Also, maintain receipts of any assistive devices such as crutches and drugs you were prescribed. File all types of correspondence you hold with your doctors during the course of treatment including e-mails, notes that you jot during or after phone conversations or during doctor’s appointments. Also keep a record of your travel expenses.
To add more weight and to help Venus Poe fight for your compensation, do the following;
- Record details about the accident.
- Take photos of the accident, for instance, if it’s a car accident, making sure to include photos of roads signs, traffic lights, etc.
- Keep records of proof of financial losses, such as lost opportunities and lost wages
- Keep a record of names and contact information of witnesses.
In addition;
Ensure you get addresses and names of any person that might have witnessed the accident, and contact them to confirm their contact details. If you speak to any of the persons that were involved in an accident, take notes about your conversation. Tell anyone that you intend to file a lawsuit against that you are planning to sue them.
Step 3: Notifying Person/Persons Lawsuit is Against
If you are planning on filling a lawsuit against a person, a government or a government department, there is no set limit within which you should notify the person of your intention to file a lawsuit. But this does not mean you should take your time with the matter. By acting first, you will most likely boost your chances of resolving your claim quicker than if you delay. Note that notifying a person of your intention to file a lawsuit does not mean you have to file a lawsuit. By notifying them, you only preserve your rights and keep the other person from defending his or herself by arguing that you waited for so long to let them know of your injuries. Notifying them, simply allows you the pleasure of proceeding with negotiations regarding arbitration and settlement at your own speed.
Step 4: Time Frame to Commence Lawsuit
Settling a personal injury claim is time-consuming, and if you fail to act first and file your claim in time, you may fall completely out of favor in collecting compensation. There are laws on a book called “statutes of limitations” that outlines the timeframes within which you are required to commence various types of lawsuits. If you relax and let this time lapse, there is nothing our personal injury attorney can do to help you recoup compensation. The secret is to check with your state’s Statute of limitations for your particular type of claim to ensure time does not lock you out.
STEP 5: How Soon to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit Against the Government?
Unlike when filing a personal injury claim against a company or an individual, you will have a more limited time to commence a lawsuit against the government, government employee or government agency. Depending on the specific type of your injury, the time frame ranges between 30 days to one year. If you do not abide with this time frame, you may lose any chance of compensation you might have.
Lastly, note that while you can successfully file a personal injury claim by yourself, it is always wise to hire a personal injury attorney to fight for your rights. This is especially so if the defendant has an attorney. We encourage you to contact personal injury attorney Venus Poe to get more information. You are also welcome to ask any question you might be having. We are always happy to help.