
7 Must-Know Facts About Personal Injury Law
Personal injury law is a very complex subject. It is also known as ‘tort’ law and allows a person who has been wrongfully injured to file a civil lawsuit and receive compensation for all losses that they have sustained because of their injuries.
This article will tell you seven must-know facts about personal injury law:
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Future Losses
Something that is overlooked, by a lot of people making personal injury claims, is the future losses that they will sustain. When a claim is made, people tend to just look into the past. They should also look into the future. If you have been severely injured and will be unable to return to work for, say, a year, then this should be included as part of your claim. The financial impact of an injury can be huge and compensation is undoubtedly a part of the recovery process. You must be able to support yourself financially now, and until your injuries heal.
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Evidence
Evidence is crucial in a personal injury case. When you are making a claim, it’s important that you gather as much hard evidence as you can. Take photographs of your injuries, write down the contact numbers and addresses of witnesses, and get written evidence from your doctor. A doctor’s note can be a very powerful piece of evidence. Most experts recommend that you get two or three.
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Patience
Personal injury lawsuits don’t resolve overnight (unless you receive a settlement offer!) You need to be patient. They can be very stressful and tiresome. It’s best to leave all of the hard work to your attorney instead of personally involving yourself too much. A lawyer, in the opinion of the legal specialists from www.recoverylawcenterhawaii.com, will advocate aggressively for your compensation so that you don’t have to. Take time off, let your injuries heal, be patient, and let your lawyer do the hard work for you.
It might also be worth pursuing a therapist or counselor in the wake of your accident, depending on the accident’s severity. You do not need to just recover physically, you need to recover mentally.
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Rejecting the First Offer
If you are not going to court, and instead are arguing with an insurance company for compensation, then most experts recommend that you should reject the first offer. The first offer made is more often than not always a low-ball. You can likely argue for a much higher amount of compensation. Your lawyer will probably advise you about this when the offer is made. The same goes for out-of-court settlements if you are taking a company to court.
Negotiations for compensation are commonplace and usually end in a settlement. Hiring a personal injury lawyer in Brockton will help you get the upper hand in these situations. They’ll go over the whole case to determine the amount of compensation you’re entitled to and then negotiate on your behalf.
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Private Life
If your case goes to court or if your insurance company gets an attorney involved, your private life will be investigated. Their attorney will go through your medical records, employment records, your social media accounts, and your public records. This is so that they can discredit you. Because of this, you should never exaggerate your symptoms or injuries. If you do and they discover this, you can find yourself in a lot of trouble. Be honest, forthcoming, and open about your injuries. Do not lie about how they have impacted your life. Anything you say, make sure that you are able to prove. Lying to an insurance company qualifies as fraud and is dealt with by the police.
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Predatory Lending Agencies
When you make a personal injury claim, you could be targeted by a predatory lending agency. These agencies promise to lend you money in exchange for your settlement. If you are out of work and desperately in need of financial assistance, then this can be a hard thing for you to turn down. However, they will take the majority of your compensation. Do not fall victim to these organizations and avoid them where you can.
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Your Day In Court
When you make a personal injury claim against an insurance company, there is always a chance that it could end up in court. This can happen because the insurance company doubts the authenticity of your claims, or thinks you are arguing for too much compensation. It might also happen because the person responsible is denying liability and arguing that you were responsible. If you take them to court, make sure you have proof of their fault.
Another reason that you might end up in court is that the statute of limitations is running out and the insurance company is delaying your compensation, or because the person’s insurance isn’t enough to cover all of your injuries, losses, and medical treatment.
Personal injury law, with these facts, should now be a little clearer. Hopefully, you never find yourself in a situation that requires you to make a personal injury claim. If you do, however, then look no further than this article.