Personal injury attorneys hear a lot of excuses when they talk to clients who were injured weeks or even months earlier. There is a thing called a statute of limitations in every state that limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit. But too many people either settle for the insurance company's payment, or just ignore the situation completely. Instead of brushing off a personal injury case, you should get responsible and take care of your personal business.
When you first get into a car accident or some other kind of personal injury accident, your injuries can be masked by adrenaline and other factors. It may not feel like you were injured, but you may be harboring injuries that could haunt you for a long time.
Whether you feel injured or not, you need to get to either an emergency room or your doctor as soon as possible to start a paper trail of medical work that can help your case. If you were injured in your accident, it will show up eventually and having it cataloged from the start will make it easier for you to make an accurate claim.
It is distressing how many people get a call from an insurance company immediately after a personal injury accident and take the first settlement they are offered. The insurance company is only interested in getting you to settle for the smallest amount possible, and it would prefer if you settled without consulting an attorney. Do not talk to an insurance company without first consulting an expert, and do not sign the first settlement you are given.
It can seem like a hassle to collect names and contact information from witnesses to your accident, but having that information could mean everything when you try to get the settlement you deserve. Many people rely on police reports to act as their primary witnesses, but police reports can be limiting. It is important that you get first-hand accounts of what happened from people who were there, and then collect contact information for your attorney to use later.
Are you certain that the other party involved in your personal injury accident has not already retained an attorney? Do you have long-term injuries that the insurance company is refusing to cover? Too many personal injury victims refuse to look into getting an attorney until they are suddenly faced with what can only be described as the worst case scenario. Instead of waiting for bad luck to happen to you, it is important to stand your ground and get an attorney who will help you to preserve your rights and get you the settlement you deserve.
The people who do not take their personal injury cases seriously are the ones who wind up wishing they had done something when the incident first happened. You do not know what kinds of long-term injuries or financial problems you could be looking at as a result of your personal injury accident, and that is why you need to be proactive when the accident happens and think of your needs and the needs of your family first.
