No one wants to be involved in incidents that may result in personal injury claims. However, they do happen sometimes. It’s important to be prepared for such a situation in advance so you know what to do if you’re ever involved in one. Here are four things you must do when filing a personal injury claim.
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1. Contact and Work with An Attorney
It’s a good idea to contact an attorney as soon as you know you want or need to file a personal injury claim. He or she should be experienced in the type of personal injury case you’re involved in and have a provable track record of successful negotiations. For example, if you’re eligible for compensation due to your or a relative’s exposure to toxic waste at Camp Lejeune, you should do some research on Camp Lejeune toxic water claims to determine what kind of claim you need to file and find attorneys who are familiar with the case that you can potentially work with.
2. Collect and Safeguard Your Records
Many personal injury cases hinge on information contained in various records related to them. You must keep all records you think may be related to your case and ensure they stay protected and safe until such time as they’re required for filing. Once you hire an attorney, you can go over all your records with him or her and determine which ones are necessary and which ones should be kept in case they become important or are entirely unnecessary.
3. Seek Any Necessary Medical Treatment
If you’re seeking a personal injury claim, it’s likely you will have needed to seek medical treatment of some kind. For example, common sources of personal injury claims due to physical injuries are car accidents or injuries sustained in the course of doing your job. In these and other cases of bodily harm, you should seek medical treatment for any injuries or illnesses sustained as a result of the incident. While doing so, your attending physician can document evidence of your injuries and the treatment plan required. These records will be important for your case. Remember to also seek psychiatric treatment if needed. Personal injury cases can also revolve around psychological injuries or damage.
4. Discuss Your Compensation and Negotiation Options
After hiring your lawyer and discussing the details of your case with him or her, you can begin the filing process and discussions about your compensation and negotiation options. Negotiations are typically held in the early stages of the claims process. Successful negotiation tends to lead to settling out of court. If negotiations have unsatisfactory results for you, you may file a lawsuit and proceed to trial. Compensation includes but is not limited to medical expenses, funeral costs, punitive damages and lost wages.
Make sure you follow your attorney’s advice and recommendations when you file a personal injury claim. He or she is an expert on the material and should have a better idea of what must be done and how to go about filing it successfully.