Being injured may feel like the end of the world, but the right lawyer can make sure it’s not. Get the help you need when you’re facing a personal injury case. Here’s what you need to know.
If you were involved in a vehicle accident, a slip-and-fall situation, or even bitten by a dog, chances are you want to move forward from the situation. Dealing with the circumstances surrounding your injury can be stressful. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 41.6 million emergency room visits in the United States each year. While some of these visits are due to chronic medical problems, many occur specifically due to personal injuries. Personal injuries can occur to anyone at anytime; however, if you are interested in pursuing a personal injury case with the assistance of an attorney, there are a few things you need to understand.
Documentation of evidence is very important
In order to pursue a personal injury case, you need to demonstrate that the injury negatively impacted your life. This can be done in a number of ways. The simplest way to provide evidence of this is to show your attorney any medical bills you may have accumulated as a result of the injury. If you have medical records, you should bring these, too. Photographic evidence of your injuries, as well as notes from your employer, are also important. If you were fired as a result of your injuries, it’s important to let your lawyer know this. Similarly, if you have lost wages due to taking time off work to heal, your attorney needs to be aware.
Time is of the essence
Understand that there is a statute of limitations when an injury occurs. Typically, this countdown begins on the date the injury occurs. In some cases, the statute of limitations begins when symptoms of an injury appear. For example, if you appeared to be uninjured after the accident for a few weeks, but later began exhibiting signs of a brain or vision problem due to the accident, the statute of limitations might begin when the symptoms first began to appear. After the statute of limitations has passed, even if you are quite obviously the injured party, you will not be able to file a claim, so make sure you don’t wait to get started.
Honesty matters
Your attorney wants to help you, but you need to help them, as well. This means that you need to be completely transparent with the attorney. If you were partially at fault for the accident, for example, you need to share this with your lawyer. Your lawyer will never shame you for any mistakes you may have made; however, honesty is key in winning a personal injury case. If you were hit by a car while running a red light, for example, you may be partially at fault and entitled to less monetary compensation. It’s always best to be transparent and open with your attorney during a personal injury case even when it’s difficult to do so.
When you’re ready to start your personal injury case to seek the damages you’re entitled to, call your attorney. They’ll be able to help evaluate your case and let you know what your next steps should be.
