Handling Your Personal Injury Claim

If you have been injured in an accident, it may be in your best interest to file a personal injury claim. Right after the accident occurs, it is very important to note any and all injuries sustained during the incident. Make notes regarding time of day, weather conditions, admissions of guilt, and whether or not there were witnesses to the scene. If there were witnesses, write down their names and phone numbers so they can be contacted once you have found a lawyer to handle your claim. When you visit the hospital for treatment of your injuries, keep precise records regarding everything procedure performed, and make sure you keep a tally of the medical bills resulting from the accident. To have a good chance of winning your personal injury claim, you must obtain a skilled and experienced lawyer to represent you in court. Ask friends and family members if they have any attorneys they would recommend. It is better to hire a lawyer that you know or have references for than to just pick someone from the phone book or to call a number on a television commercial. Once you choose the attorney to represent your personal injury claim, he will draw up a contract regarding payment of fees, expectations and rules of confidentiality. If the representatives for the people

you are suing do not wish to take the matter all the way to court, the attorneys from each side can meet and attempt to reach a settlement before the court date. Your lawyer cannot settle your personal injury claim out of court without your permission. If the case does go to court, your claim will be tried, and hopefully the settlement will be to your advantage. Once you have won your claim, your settlement will be dispersed to both you and your lawyer, depending on the details of the contract that was drawn during your initial meetings. Your personal injury claim should cover lost wages, personal suffering, medical expenses, and often times an extra award for attorney and court fees.