Immediately following an accident, it’s natural to turn your attention to your health, treatment and impact of your injuries on your personal and professional lives. At the same time, you should consider your ability to start a personal injury claim.
If another person’s negligence was responsible for your accident, such as an aggressive trucker who caused a highway crash, you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries, damage to your vehicle and other losses.
Here are the steps you can take to prepare yourself to start a personal injury claim:
- Collect evidence: Any evidence that shows that the other person caused the accident is something you can use to your advantage. For example, if you have photographs of the scene and/or a copy of the police report, keep it nearby for future use.
- Start a journal: This is a place for you to take notes regarding what happened before, during and after the accident. Furthermore, you can use it to track things such as hospital visits, medical bills and time away from work. It’s best to track these details as the days go by, as opposed to all at once when you learn that you need the information.
- Talk to witnesses: Along with obtaining a copy of the police report, collect contact information from anyone who saw the accident unfold, such as a passenger or pedestrian.
- Take notes of all conversations: For example, when you contact your insurance agent to file a claim, make note of the person’s name, date and time of the conversation. And of course, include details of what was discussed.
With all of this information in hand, you’ll have a better understanding of how to protect your legal rights and the steps you must take to start a personal injury claim.
Don’t lose sight of the fact that this process requires attention to detail, knowledge of your rights and the assistance of a legal professional.
It’s the steps you take following your accident that dictates what happens next. With the right approach, you’re positioning yourself to hold the negligent party responsible, which often means obtaining compensation for all or some of your losses.
