preparing yourself for an injury lawsuit

Steps To Take After You Believe You Have Suffered From An Accident That Is Ground For A Personal Injury Case

Suffering from an accident can be a harrowing – if not traumatizing – experience. However, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is try to remain calm and decide whether or not the accident that took place is grounds for a personal injury case to help pay your medical bills. Here is a list of just a few of the steps you should take.

Seek Medical Attention 

It is important that you seek medical attention directly after an accident. This is for your own health, first and foremost, but this also holds certain legal ramifications, as well. For example, if you do not seek medical attention after an accident, an insurance claims adjuster can use this you, and the defense attorney can use this as ammunition for his or her client's defense.

Seek The Services Of An Attorney

It is possible to settle out of court with an attorney, but even this matter is usually not recommended, as the defense will usually attempt to get you, as the potential plaintiff, to settle for far less than you should. A lawyer with specialization in personal injury cases is absolutely imperative for any case in which you experienced a rather significant injury or have racked up a hefty medical bill due to the experience.

Investigation of Medical Records

Your attorney will then review all of the medical documents that are relevant to the case. This means the entirety of your medical history, as well as any bills that were accrued due to the accident in question. A review of these documents will allow the attorney to see if a case is possible at all.

Begin the Negotiation Process

It is at this time that you and your attorney will begin the negotiation process. If the claim in question is rather small, chances are, it will be settled out of court. However, this is not always the case. If an amicable agreement cannot be reached between you and the defendant, then your lawyer will file a claim and the case will go to court. Your lawyer will usually not file the case, however, until you have reached what it is termed "Maximum Medical Improvement." This means that your condition has improved to the best-case scenario. In some cases, this means returning to normal health. In other cases, your health will be diminished from the state it was in before the accident began. This allows your lawyer to value the case to its greatest potential. Contact a law firm like The Reed Noble Law Firm PLLC for more information.


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