What You’ll Need Before Suing For Personal Injuries

Being involved in a vehicle accident is stressful enough, but suffering from injuries is a whole other ball game that may not only cause pain and suffering but lost wages and stacks of medical bills. Car crashes are ranked at the top when it comes to personal injury cases in the U.S., and a careless driver will be held financially responsible for any injuries that occur due to their recklessness.

The problem is, where do you start when it comes to getting compensation for those personal injuries? Here’s what you’ll need before suing.

Medical Diagnosis and Treatment

As soon as possible after your accident, you should seek medical treatment, following any recommendations and treatment healthcare providers recommend. It’s important to stick to the regular treatment schedule ordered by your physician as the lawyers for the insurance company will take advantage of the opportunity to argue that your injuries weren’t severe, were aggravated by failing to follow your doctor’s advice, or that you weren’t really injured at all. Medical records will be some of the most important pieces of evidence in deciding the case.

Documentation and Photos

Documenting as much as possible is essential. If possible, take photos of the accident scene and your injuries using your smartphone. Pictures truly are worth a thousand words in proving your claim and getting a fair settlement. Jot down any notes about the accident and detail your injuries too.

Knowledge

If you aren’t familiar with the process for personal injury claims, gain as much knowledge as you can by researching online like you are now, there is a wealth of information available. Additionally, scheduling a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer will help fill you in on the rest as well as let you know if it makes sense to pursue the case.

An Attorney

Consultations can also help you make the best decision when it comes to hiring the best possible personal injury lawyer. Hiring an attorney is always a good idea as going through the process of suing for personal injuries can be difficult to do on your own, and you’ll not only be more likely to win the case, but you’re likely to get compensated better too. Insurance companies don’t want you to hire a lawyer because they know they’ll end up paying more money for the claim. After all, they don’t make money paying claims, they make money collection premiums, and the less they have to pay you, the more profit they’ll make.

When suing an insurance company, you’ll be going against multiple highly experienced attorneys, so you’ll need a good one on your side. While you can search Google for terms like “Missouri personal injury lawyers,” check their reviews and current standing with the American Bar Association. You should also try to get recommendations from family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Once you have a shortlist of options, schedule consultations with those who seem to be the best fit to discuss your case to discuss their fees, qualifications, and experience, as well as to determine personality fit.