Personal Injury Lawyer
Filing a personal injury claim can be an overwhelming process. For the average person, there are many legal terms that are often hard to understand, and it can be difficult to make sense of the laws and how they apply to your case. A lawyer can walk you through the claims process step by step. The basic steps of a personal injury case are described below.
Get Medical Treatment
After suffering an injury from an accident, you should get medical treatment right away and get the care you need. Delaying treatment can hinder your recovery, and it can prevent you from getting compensation that you are entitled to. Medical records are important pieces of evidence to support your claim. Another reason it is necessary to see a doctor is so that you can know what future medical treatment that you will need, which will also be calculated when your damages are compiled
Investigation
Your personal injury lawyer will begin your investigation. The investigation phase may take several months to complete. As a personal injury attorney like one from Ward & Ward Law Firm can explain, their tasks include reviewing paperwork, speaking to expert witnesses and individuals who witness the accident. If the parties that your lawyer needs to talk to are uncooperative, it may take even longer. They will speak to the parties involved to gather the facts and details of the case. During this time they will also see what damages you can recover.
Negotiate Settlement
Most personal injury lawsuits end in a settlement. After the lawyer has completed their investigation, they will decide if they want to pursue a settlement. This is often done when the patient has mostly recovered. They will reach out to the insurance company and propose a settlement amount. The parties will negotiate until they reach an agreement to settle. If they are unable to come to an agreement, the lawyer will decide if they want to file a lawsuit.
Go to Trial
In cases where the insurance company will not agree to the lawyer’s proceed compensation amount, or if the insurance company is not responsive, then going to trial may be necessary. However, only a small percentage of personal injury cases actually go to trial.
Figuring out the steps in a personal injury claim is far from easy. Hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer like one from Ward & Ward Law Firm can ease your mind and make the claims process less stressful to go through. Seek the help of a trusted lawyer now and schedule a consultation.