An accident with injuries can be a devastating experience. You May face multiple doctor’s appointments, months of physical therapy, and an enormous pile of bills. In addition to the physical pain, you will also have to deal with missing out on major portions of your normal life.
Your first instinct might be to ask a lawyer if you have a strong enough case to file an insurance claim. Most attorneys will tell you that building a strong case is dependent on your ability to collect evidence, prove negligence, and get everything done in a timely fashion. There are a few things the insurance company will look for before they will pay out on the claim.
If you had a car accident, did you contact the police and wait at the scene for them to arrive? Did you get the names of witnesses and take pictures of the cars? Witnesses are extremely helpful in winning a case. If you are in a slip and fall accident, you should have notified the manager of the store and filled out an accident report. Documentation will help your insurance adjuster know exactly what happened to cause your injuries.
Duty of care is a legal term that requires people to act in a reasonable way by being watchful, attentive, and cautious. For example, when a person gets a driver’s license they are agreeing to follow the rules of the road. If they do not obey traffic laws, they may be negligent in their duty of care.
When you go to the doctor for your injuries, you should remember to save every bill that you get. You should also save bills from physical therapy appointments. Make sure to save receipts for any medicine that you may have taken.
if you have missed work due to your injuries, you should have your company’s HR department write you a letter stating the number of hours you have missed from work. be sure to document any extra expenses such as child care or home cleaning.
Having an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner is very important to get the money you deserve for your accident. They will have years of experience in negotiating with insurance companies. The attorney you choose should have practiced law in your state for a good long while and should have enough time to devote to your case.
You will want to file an insurance claim even if you were partially responsible for the crash. California is a tort state when it comes to auto insurance. In a tort state, the person who caused the accident is responsible for its bills. In most states, a person can recover damages if the other party was at least 51% responsible for an accident. However, in California, you can receive compensation even if the other party was only 10% responsible for the accident.
Having an accident can seriously interrupt your life. Building a solid case for your claim can help heal your wounds.