If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, you may need to file a personal injury claim to receive compensation from the person or entity responsible for causing the accident. However, if you have never filed a personal injury claim before, then this process will seem over-complicated, which is where Mestayer Law Firm steps in. We know all the ins and outs to personal injury claims are ready to help you or a loved one file one today. Even if you have filed a claim before, you understand this process is tricky and it is best to go through it with experienced lawyers. To help you better understand the process, we have provided this overview to help:
Step 1: Seek Medical Treatment
After being injured in an accident, your first priority should be to seek medical treatment. Even if you do not feel pain or discomfort after an accident, you may find yourself in pain later, so there is no harm in being examined. Furthermore, if you forgo medical treatment, that will provide you with serious disadvantages when you seek to be compensated for your injuries as insurance companies will call into question the severity of your injuries and your claim for compensation.
Step 2: Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you have been involved in a major accident and your treatment is ongoing or involves multiple hospital visits, you will likely need a personal injury attorney to help you recover the entirety of your medical treatment. Regardless of whether or not you hire a lawyer, you should contact one about your claim as there may be requirements you are unaware of. While you are talking to a lawyer, you may discover you are entitled to more compensation than you originally thought.
Step 3: Set Up a Claim
It is finally time for you and your lawyer to set up your claim! This claim will inform the individual or entity liable for your injuries and their insurance provider that you are seeking compensation. Sometimes, when you inform the liable party of your intent to file a claim, it helps your claim get settled quickly.
Step 4: Gather Information
During this step, continue to receive medical treatment and gather as much information about your injuries as possible. During this time, collect medical records, invoices, communicate with your doctor to learn the extent of your injuries, and receive estimates on the damage of your vehicle. It is also a good idea to keep track of lost wages to receive further compensation for days you went without pay due to hospital visits.
Step 5: Negotiate a Settlement
Negotiating a personal injury claim is a difficult process as each side of the argument has a different idea as to what your claim is worth. You know how much you are willing to accept, and the insurance company knows how little they want to spend, but neither side knows what amount the other side is thinking. Therefore, you enter a process of back and forth with offers until a compromise is reached or a lawsuit is filed and the case will go to trial. Keep in mind that your attorney can demand compensation before or after filing a lawsuit.
Step 6: Settlement is Reached or Lawsuit is Filed
If the negotiation ends with a decision you are happy with, you and your attorney will accept the offer. However, if the negotiation does not end in an acceptable offer then you may choose to file a lawsuit to seek the compensation needed. There are legal limits regarding how long you can wait to file a personal injury claim before being barred from filing a claim for that accident. If you choose to file a lawsuit, your attorney will help you every step of the way to help you reach maximum compensation.
If you have specific questions regarding personal injury claims or are currently looking for an attorney to help you win your battle, contact Mestayer Law Firm to speak to a team of experienced attorneys today!
No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
This article does not create an attorney-client relationship. I am licensed to practice law in Mississippi and have based the information presented on US laws. This article is legal information and is for entertainment and informational purposes only and should not be seen as legal advice. You should consult with an attorney before you rely on this information. Any information provided in this blog is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge, but that there may be omissions, errors or mistakes.