HELPFUL TIPS FOR FILING A PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM

POSTED BY MUKERJI LAW FIRM ON August 26, 2013

Have you been injured in a serious accident? Not sure of what to do next or who to turn to? Life is challenging enough without having to deal with a personal injury on top of it. The last thing you will want to do is haggle with the insurance companies as you try to recover from a painful injury. Whether you were injured in a car accident, a slip and fall accident, an escalator accident or an animal attack, you will need the experienced guidance of a Houston personal injury lawyer from Mukerji Law Firm to help guide you through the personal injury claim process. Before you do that, read through this list of helpful tips of what to do after a personal injury accident.

Seek immediate medical attention- First and foremost, your health is most important. If you have sustained a serious injury in any type of accident, you must seek treatment from an experienced medical professional. Not only it is vital to seek medical care so that you can heal properly and avoid infection, but it can also increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation. If you don’t go to a doctor or hospital to have your injuries treated, then the insurance companies will think they are not as serious as you make them seem to be.
Be sure to notify law enforcement officials- If anyone is injured in an accident, they should make sure that the accident is reported to the officials and a police report is filed. Within the report the police with put down their opinion of what happened and this could count as physical evidence in your case, if you file a lawsuit.
Avoid making statements regarding fault- At the scene of the accident, you need to be cautious of what you say to the other party and to the witnesses who say it happen. It is always wise to be discrete with what you say, even if the other party is at fault. This way you can avoid any unnecessary conflict and nothing you say can be used against you to ruin your chances of recovering restitution.
Be sure to document all costs and doctor visits- Any expense that is related to your injury should be well documented. This means that your records should be thorough and you should keep receipts for everything you had to pay out of pocket. The costs of your injury go farther than hospitalization expenses and medication/treatment costs, you should also keep track of any lost wages if you had to stay home from work. You should also document every time you went to visit the doctor.
Be wary when doing business with insurance companies- It is always important to remember that the insurance companies don’t have your best interests at heart. They are only looking to minimize they out of pocket costs, which means that they will try to cut corners by underpaying, delaying or denying your claim. Be sure to have a competent personal injury attorney on your side to ensure that your rights and interests are protected during this process.
Don’t sign any medical release forms that the insurance companies give you- The insurance companies may give you some forms that they would like you to sign and they may ask you for a formal statement of what happened. It is vital that you refrain from signing any forms before speak with you injury attorney, especially if you don’t understand what they are saying.
Don’t just settle for what the insurance company offers you- Typically, the insurance company is looking to pay you the least amount of compensation as possible. Don’t settle for less than you deserve! With the help of a Houston injury attorney, you may be able to maximize your settlement and get the full amount of restitution that you are legally entitled to.
File your claim within the statute of limitations- In every state, there is a deadline that you must be aware of if you are filing for a personal injury, wrongful death or workers’ compensation claim. Each state is different so be sure to ask your lawyer how much time you have to file before it is too late.
Get familiar with the personal injury process- This may be your first time that you have sustained injuries in an accident. If so, you will want to sit down with a personal injury attorney in the area and find out how the process works and what the laws are that pertain to your case. You should also find out how much compensation you could be entitled to, if any.
Find the right lawyer who is experienced in this particular area- There are some attorneys that are definitely better suited to take on your case than others. Do your research and find a trustworthy and aggressive legal advocate with a focus in the field of personal injury law. Some attorneys are Board Certified or may have special qualifications, so find out which Houston injury lawyer is right for you.
Here at Mukerji Law Firm, our attorneys are set apart from the rest. Contact our firm today if you are searching for a personal injury lawyer in Houston, Texas.

*Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

 

Car Accidents, Personal Injury