Filing a Personal Injury Claim: What You Should Know

October 9, 2018  |  Adriel B. Villarreal

Filing a Personal Injury Claim: What You Should Know
No matter what the situation is, if you suffer a personal injury due someone else’s negligence, the first thing that you need to do of course is consider your health and immediately seek the medical attention that you need. However, there are a couple of other things that you should do as quickly as possible as well as other steps that you should take once you’ve received proper medical care, including making preparations for filing a personal injury claim.

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If at All Possible
If it is safe to do so and you’re physically able to, you should attempt to obtain names and contact information of any witnesses that may have observed the accident. This includes any employees or anyone involved in the accident that you may have spoken with and when you are able to, make notes regarding your conversations. Get a copy of any store accident report or a police report if applicable as these can be invaluable if you do decide to file a personal injury claim in Coon Rapids or anywhere in Minnesota.
 
Make a Record of the Accident & Aftermath
Taking the time to take photographs of your injuries, damages, and any evidence that may help shed light on who caused the accident, can also be quite useful as well. Be certain to obtain copies of hospital discharge instructions, any medical bills, rental car costs, medication receipts, and even mileage traveled for doctor or hospital visits.
You should also write down everything that has happened to you since the accident. This includes any lost wages from work, missed engagements, or other negative impacts to your life. Having these items available when you file a personal injury claim can be very beneficial to your case and any settlement that you receive.
 
Avoid Mistakes When Filing a Personal Injury Claim
The consequences of being injured in an accident can be slightly more than stressful, and the injury may leave you unable to work or saddle you with insurmountable medical bills and may well be life-altering, in more ways than one. The process of filing a personal injury claim can seem daunting at first, but you must be careful to avoid mistakes that could result in your claim being rejected. When you’re facing the possibility of filing a personal injury lawsuit in Coon Rapids, you need to be careful not to make the following mistakes.
 

• Not seeking medical attention – Receiving prompt medical attention after sustaining an injury is important for a couple of reasons. First, as we stated earlier, it is important that you always put your health first and receive attention for your injury. Second, this will also create medical records that can be used if and when you file your claim. Properly documenting your condition is extremely important to building a strong claim for compensation injuries.
• Missing the Statute of Limitations – In most personal injury cases in and around Coon Rapids (car accident cases in particular), you only have 6 years from the date of the accident to file a claim.
• Failing to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney – The opponent’s insurance company will likely try to convince you that you don’t need one, or you may think that you can walk away with more of your possible settlement without one, but the fact is – you need an attorney. An attorney will know the claims process inside and out and do everything that they can to protect your rights while seeking proper compensation for your injury. Otherwise, if you face this without representation, insurance companies may try to take advantage of your unfamiliarity with the process or even go as far as to reject your claim outright.

 
A good personal injury lawyer will also ensure that all deadlines are met and that required paperwork is filed in a timely and even expedited manner. Personal injury cases can take a while to work through the judicial system and without proper representation, you could face delay tactics from the opposition. Don’t leave your health and future in someone’s hands that couldn’t care less about your health and wellbeing, contact an attorney that will ensure that you are protected.