From sustaining serious injuries in a car accident, to suffering a damaging fall on a spill while at work or out shopping, there are many routes that can lead you to suffer injury through no fault of your own and decide to file a personal injury claim. The legal territory surrounding personal injury is complicated, but there are some tried-and-true steps that you can take to determine when and how to file a claim.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Sorting Out Insurance
If you feel that someone else may be liable for the injury or injuries you’ve sustained, the first important step will be to find out whether this person has insurance that can cover the damage. For instance, if you’ve been injured in an automobile accident, the other driver’s insurance may provide for damages.…show more content… On the other hand, if you have feel you have sustained a serious injury through the fault of another and that person has insurance coverage or significant resources at their disposal, it may be to your benefit to find an attorney to help you file your claim.
Deciding to Hire an Attorney
Luckily, many attorneys will offer a free initial consultation to help you determine whether or not you have a case. A personal injury attorney can evaluate the merits of your claim and lay out what your legal options are. Most if not all attorneys in this area will offer to take payment for their services only if they are able to resolve the case in your favor. This is called working on a contingency fee basis.
If your case is not clear-cut and you’ve suffered a serious injury for which you feel you must be compensated, it will be to your benefit to find a qualified personal injury lawyer.