If you are contemplating filing a personal injury lawsuit, there are several steps you should take in order to maximize your chances of success. You may be suffering from not just physical injuries, but also a loss of work, high medical bills, and other issues. Being prepared is the key to success.
Seek Medical Care Right Away
If you delay seeking medical care, an opposing attorney or insurance company can claim that you were not really injured. You may not even realize that you are hurt, so get any EMTs or other medical personnel available at the place of your injury to check you out. Be sure they fill out reports. Also, go see your doctor. Describe exactly what happened, as a medical professional will know how to look for signs of specific injuries based on what happened.
Gather All of Your Evidence
Get everything that you can on paper, and preserve any emails, text messages and voicemails between you and the other party. Ask the police, medical personnel, and anyone else involved for written statements. If there were any witnesses, get their information in writing immediately. The recollections of people who aren’t a party to the action lend credibility to your claim, particularly when it comes to the negligent actions of others.
Act Quickly
You only have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. Beyond these court deadlines, witnesses may move or not remember events clearly over time. It also becomes harder to collect information like medical and police reports if you have to go through additional channels down the road.
Hire An Attorney and Talk Only to Them
The most important thing you can do to guarantee the success of your personal injury lawsuit is to hire an experienced attorney. They can help you navigate a very complicated legal system, and they know how to deal with insurance companies and their attorneys. Make sure you only talk to your attorney about your case. Things that you say to others can be brought to light during your lawsuit, and even completely innocent comments can be portrayed in a negative light.
