A personal injury lawsuit ensues when the accident victim decides to sue the party responsible for their negligence or intended injury. According to Legal Match, the claims of personal injury can stem from defective products, automobile accidents or slips and fall among other accidents. The claim compensation usually covers pain and suffering, loss of income, property damage and medical expenses.
Although nobody wants to be injured in an accident, mishaps do happen when we least expect. When you or a loved one is injured in an accident, you need to file a personal injury claim as soon as possible to get the compensation that you deserve and get back to normal life. According to Ties Education Magazine here are 5 tips for filing a personal injury:
1. Go for a medical checkup immediately after an accident – after an incident has happened, the first thing you need to do is go for a medical checkup. The doctor will document your condition and follow through with treatment. This process will help strengthen your case for a claim. The law requires that the injured party do everything in their power to mitigate loses so it doesn’t lead to more serious injuries or damages.
2. File a police report – filing a police report is among the very first things you need to do after an accident. The report should include the names and contact information of the persons involved in the accident and a detailed description of the incident, including the injuries and damages sustained. Insurance companies, attorneys and the court systems will all need the report for incident verification.
3. Keep records and receipts and of all expenses incurred – record keeping is essential in lodging a successful claim. All receipts and record of expenses, from bills of damaged property and insurance records to medical bills should be put together. Do not forget a record of lost wages indicating the total lost earnings and reasons for staying out of work. Lastly, you need to have a statement giving an accurate account of the incident. Be sure to include the date and time of the accident as well as photos of accident scene.
4. Tread cautiously when dealing with the insurance company – if you are involved in a motor accident, you need to be wary of insurance companies to avoid a lengthy legal process. To ensure your interests are taken care of at all times, hire a competent personal injury attorney to fight on your behalf. You can start by instructing your attorney to draft a letter of claim. According to the law, the defendant is issued several days to acknowledge receipt of the letter of claim before investigations on the matter can commence.
5. Read and understand all documentation before signing – when filing a personal injury claim, a lot of paperwork will come your way. Before signing anything, read between the lines and make sure you understand the implications of each and every document. A personal injury lawyer will help you file the claim and avoid the tricks used by defense attorneys to weaken your case. The filing must be done within the stipulated time frame, which varies from state to state as defined by the statute of limitations.
Florida personal injury attorney
Injuries sustained in an accident can lead to serious repercussions, from personal injury and property damage to wrongful death. Tampa personal injury attorney is fully committed to working on your behalf to ensure the best possible results. Tampa personal injury attorney serves a wider practice area, including automobile related accidents, felony criminal defense, insurance dispute, wrongful death and product liability. The lead attorneys Kinney, Fernandez and Boire have between them 50 years of experience helping clients get the claim they deserve and a return to normal life. You can get in touch today by calling a Tampa injury attorney or visit the law firm website.