An accident, whether it be a car accident, truck accident, trip and fall (or slip and fall), or a workplace accident can be stressful and interrupt the delicate flow and balance of a persons life. If the accident wasn’t your fault, you may have an accident injury claim, a settlement from which can reimburse you for medical expenses, lost wages and other damages and set the pieces of your life back together.
Steps to Take Immediately After an Accident:
1. Collect any evidence you can, take photographs, see if there are any witnesses nearby to the scene. Any proof that can show that you are not at fault for the accident will help towards your personal injury claim.
2. Keep track of all financial ramifications of the injury. This likely includes medical bills, lost wages, damage to property. Again, the more information you have to slam on top of the claim, the better for you, ultimately.
3. If you have a conversation with the other party in the accident, it can be wise to take notes and/or record the dialog.
How Long Do I have to File a Personal Injury Claim after my accident?
If you are bringing a case against an individual or a private business, other than your states statute of limitation there is no defined time limit for submitting your claim or informing the person of your intention to file a lawsuit. That being said, acting quickly has benefits, the largest of which being that your claim may be resolved quicker if attended to quicker. Informing the defending party that you intend to file does not lock you into filing a lawsuit. Announcing your intent blocks the other party from arguing that you waited too long to disclose your injuries. Most states’ statutes are from 1-4 years or so — but if you are bringing up an injury case 4 years after the incident, you are unlikely to be successful.
Should I Hire an Attorney for my Accident Injury Claim?
Absolutely. Legal processes can be extremely complex and tedious, trying to take the entire process on by yourself is a good way to get less compensation than you are owed, or none at all. Many law offices offer free consultation on accident injury claims.