Have you been in an accident? Do you think there’s nothing you can do about it? Well, you deserve to get the justice you need when it comes to the accident that’s happened. The tips below will help guide you through your quest for legal recourse, so take advantage of them while they’re still available.
1. Make Sure You Understand The Basics Of Personal Injury Law
If you are hurt in an accident, you should hire a lawyer who specializes in personal injury cases; this is where you need to make sure that your case is actually worth something before spending your money on hiring a lawyer. Three main factors determine how much recoverable damages will be in your case, including the nature and extent of the injuries, the location of the injury, and the permanency of any damage. If you’re in Oakland, you will want to contact a good and reputable Oakland law firm to help you with filing your case. So, a lawyer will be able to help you determine what each of these three factors means for your case and how much money it can be worth.
2. Understand Your State’s “Statute of Limitations”
Every state has a time limit called the statute of limitations, which is how long an accident victim has to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party or parties after they’ve been injured in an accident. This time varies by state and by law, so check with your local county clerk if you’re not sure what this is for your particular situation. If you miss out on filing within the allotted amount of time, then this could cause some issues as far as getting justice goes because you won’t be able to sue after that point period.
3. Keep All Records And Documents
You should keep a record of every detail you can. If you have medical records, make sure to hold onto them and make copies in case the originals go missing or get destroyed somehow. You should also save all your receipts from doctor’s visits and any other expenses related to your injury, such as lost wages if you’ve been unable to work, etc. Anything that can be used as proof that the accident was the other party’s fault and that it resulted in injuries for yourself.
4. Speak With Your Own Insurance Company
If you don’t want to end up footing all the bills for your injuries by paying out of pocket and especially if you’re left with permanent damage, then it might be a good idea for you to speak with your own insurance company and let them know about the accident. They might be able to work with you so that your injuries will be covered in part or whole by your policy.
5. Don’t Try To Handle Everything Yourself
As much as you might want to handle all of this on your own, it’s not a good idea for several reasons, including because you don’t necessarily have enough knowledge of personal injury law, the statute of limitations may already be up, and because there could be hidden details that an experienced lawyer would be able to find that could give your case just what it needs to prevail in court and get justice for what has happened.
Things You Should Avoid Doing
If you want to make sure that you don’t mess up your chances at getting the justice you deserve with your injury or accident, then there are some things that you should avoid doing. This includes making an admission of fault with the other party, which could be used against you in court later on, even if you’re just saying this to try and get out of trouble by trying to convince them that it was your fault. You’ll also want to avoid signing any waivers or releases when dealing with insurance companies because this can cause problems down the line with actually moving forward in court proceedings.
You should also avoid talking to the other party directly about paying for your injuries. If they do offer, then you’ll want to get all of this in writing and not just on a verbal agreement. Finally, avoid talking to an insurance adjuster without first talking to your lawyer because they might try to persuade you into giving up some rights or even telling you that you don’t have any options at all, so it’s best if your legal representative takes care of all of these conversations instead.
