Getting hurt in an accident is never pleasant. The recovery time can be painful and extensive. You may even lose a lot of time from work, or worse, you could lose your job altogether. While you are struggling to make ends meet on less money, you must still prepare for your court case. The following are four keys to ensuring your case is in excellent shape.
Gather Evidence
When an accident occurs, this is when you need to start gathering as much evidence as possible. If you have difficulty doing that, because you are too severely injured, then you need to call anyone you can get to the scene with a camera who can help you gather evidence for your case. The more evidence that works in your favor, the better. Pictures that detail an accident are golden in court because they show things relevant to the viability of your case and to the settlement amount you seek to obtain.
Medical Documentation
When you are finished at the accident scene, time is of the essence. You need to immediately go get checked out by a doctor and have your injuries fully documented. Every moment you waste, failing to carry out this all-important step, can cost you huge in the settlement amount you are seeking. This is one of the biggest mistakes claimants make.
Dealing with the Insurance Adjuster
When it comes to dealing with the insurance adjuster, you must understand that this individual is never your friend. In fact, your attorney will likely warn you that an adjuster will toss out a low offer amount to test to see if you know how much your case is actually worth and to figure out if you have any clue what you are doing when negotiating with an adjuster. In most cases, it is really best to have an attorney present to help you deal with an adjuster—especially when you are seeking a high dollar settlement amount.
Prepare for the Fight
If you think it is going to be easy in court, then you are likely not prepared for what you are about to face. An attorney like Steven W. Harris is able to assist you in filing a personal injury lawsuit. In addition, you will need an experienced legal team that works with you one-on-one to ensure that you will be properly represented in the courtroom.
Your personal injury case is going to court tomorrow. It is important to relax and recap the events so that your mind is extremely clear about what happened. Reviewing the evidence and your medical documentation, so you know what to say, is never a bad idea either. With these tips in mind, you should be ready to make your points with the mental clarity of a seasoned pro.
About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her husky Snowball. You can find her on Twitter at @LizzieWeakley and on Facebook at facebook.com/lizzie.weakley.
