You can’t always control what happens, and accidents certainly happen to even the most vigilant of people. But, if you believe that your accident was the result of negligence by another party, then you do have some control over what happens next.
You may be considering compensation. Perhaps you’ve incurred medical expenses as a result of your accident, or you may have had to take time off work to recover. Unless you are exceptionally unlucky, then this is probably your first time wading through these waters and you may be concerned that you’re more likely to sink than swim.
You’ve no doubt heard how eye wateringly expensive legal fees can be and perhaps you are wondering if seeking compensation is even an option that is open to you.
How Do I Know If I Have A Claim?
Just because you’ve been injured, doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a claim and you don’t want to waste your valuable time pursuing a claim that isn’t there. So, before you even consider going any further with this, answer the following questions:
- Was another party responsible for what happened?
- Did you get injured as a result of their negligence?
- Did your injury result in harm?
If your answer to these three questions is yes, then the likelihood is that you have good grounds for a personal injury claim. Some of the most common claims include the following:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall
- Medical malpractice
- Dog bites
- Defamation
What’s Involved in My Personal Injury Claim?
Shortly after your accident you may be contacted by the insurance company of the party responsible. It’s important that you give them as little information as possible as they will try and use anything you say to reduce the amount of compensation you receive.
The first step is to engage the services of a professional legal team to spearhead your case. William Turner, an Attorney at Law, will not only help you avoid all the potholes that will ultimately affect the outcome, but will also ensure no deadlines are missed, keep all of your medical and legal records up to date and ensure that you receive the best compensation for your case. If you are unsure whether you should pursue legal action at all, then they will evaluate the details and advise you accordingly.
Insurance companies will often offer you a ‘settlement’ which is an amount that you can accept in order to forfeit your right to pursue legal action. Attorney fees will usually be based on a percentage of the total recovery. Make sure you still stand to make more than you would if you accepted the settlement from the insurance company.
Investigations will then commence, and you will be asked to supply evidence such as medical records, damages, loss of earnings, costs, etc. The attorney will then negotiate with the insurance company directly and keep you informed of any developments.
Only four percent to five percent of personal injury cases make it to trial as insurance companies prefer to settle out of court.
