Were you recently in an accident? Planning to file a personal injury lawsuit? To get the money you deserve, follow these tips:
1. Keep All Medical Records
All records of your injuries are valuable in court. They help you get compensation not only for the money you’ve already spent, but also for the future costs of long-term damage to your body.
2. Do Not Speak to the Opposing Insurance Company
Insurers are liable to record your words and present them in court out of context. The less you say to them, the harder it is for them to trick you.
3. Document All Conversations with the Opposing Insurers, Medical Providers, and Witnesses
If you do let something slip, it pays to remember specifically what it was so that you and your lawyer can be prepared for it. You also may catch the insurer or a witness saying something that helps your case.
4. Document All Time Missed from Work
The money you aren’t making at work because of your injury is a legitimate damage and you deserve compensation. Even if you’re paid for the time, being away from work damages your chances of advancing at your company or earning higher commissions. Document all of this.
5. Document Your Pain and Experiences After the Accident
Besides paying you for financial damages, the opposing insurers must also compensate you for pain and suffering. The more pain you can prove, the more money you will get.
6. Get Estimates for All Vehicle Damages
As with damage to your body, damage to your car can have long-term costs. If you can prove that the damages will cost you in the future, you can demand compensation.
7. Keep the Receipts for Out-of-Pocket Expenses
It’s easy to forget small charges like car rental fees and health care deductibles, but they add up to a lot of money.
8. Contact Your Insurer and Ask If Your Policy Offers Any Benefits
Your insurance usually won’t cover accidents that are someone else’s fault, but there are exceptions. It’s important to know exactly how much of the damage, if any, is already covered; the more accurate your estimate is of damages that aren’t covered, the more likely you are to win.
9. Get a Copy of the Police Report and Make Sure It’s Accurate
If the police report wrongly makes it look like the accident was your fault, your attorney will have to find witnesses to testify against it.
10. Back Up Any Photographs or Data On Your Cell Phone
The more evidence you have, the better. Your phone’s call records, for example, could be the key to proving that you weren’t talking on the phone before the accident, and thus weren’t distracted.
For more information on how to succeed in court, contact Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C. today.