Preparing for a personal injury case can be a lot of work with detailed follow-ups and the collection of medical records being the most time-consuming aspect of it all. In doing your homework and hiring a good personal injury lawyer, you’ll have a better chance at winning your case. If you are considering filing a medical malpractice claim, wrongful death claim, or another personal injury suit for you or a family member and aren’t sure how to get started with your personal injury case, read on for tips.
1. Hire an Attorney
One of the most important things you can do for yourself if planning on filing a personal injury claim is to find a good lawyer. Whether you or someone is hurt, you need to focus on your recovery while seeking justice on your claim.
Maybe you live in Chicago and were hit in a pedestrian accident on the sidewalk by a distracted driver and now suffer from paralysis. The best thing you can do is contact a personal injury attorney in Chicago and give them the basic details of your case. From there, they will ask for additional information like your medical records, medical expenses, and more. Trained lawyers can work to negotiate with insurance companies, handle settlements or trials, and will know how to calculate damages for pain and suffering.
While you have a legal right in the United States to represent yourself after suffering a serious injury, you’ll have a better shot at winning your case with a great legal team at your side. Most personal injury lawyers will offer a free initial consultation where you can get questions answered before deciding if you want them to represent them in your case.
2. Do Your Research
If you’re injured due to someone else’s mistake, crime, or negligence, you’ll want to do your homework. There are lawyers who specialize in various types of injury. From medical malpractice to wrongful deaths, make sure to ask your potential attorney what they’re best at. It’s okay to decide to go with someone else and important that you feel you have a good match as you’ll be working with them for a long time and want a good client-attorney relationship.
3. Follow the Case
While home healing and waiting on your new legal team to file paperwork with courts and defendants, it might be tempting to do some research on the person who hurt you. There are easy options for this all over the internet. If you want to know how to see if someone is in jail, do a quick Google search for public records. Just be prepared that the wheels of justice move slowly and you might not find the result you’re hoping for.
4. Provide Additional Information
As your case moves along, your legal team will ask you for medical updates and new expenses. Keeping a file of additional information they’ll need is a great way to stay organized and help your case in the long run. When first meeting with your lawyer, ask about the type of information they’re likely to request so you can get a jump start on this.
In the end, you’ll have a better chance at legal action going your way with the right personal injury lawyer and the support of friends and family or others who care about you. No matter what type of personal injury you’ve suffered from, it’s important to surround yourself with a good support system and let your attorney do their job. The stress involved in a personal injury case won’t help your recovery so leaving the complex details to a professional will help.
Whether you were in a vehicular accident, have been a victim of medical malpractice, are struggling with a wrongful death claim, or are fighting for worker’s compensation, it’s important that you do what you can to rest and leave the court battles to lawyers with years of experience.
