If you’ve sustained injuries due to someone’s negligence or carelessness, you can file a personal injury claim for compensation. These injuries don’t have to be physical; some damage comes with mental and psychological issues associated with trauma or impairment of body function.
Personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas, NV, have explained essential things to consider before filing a claim.
Gather Relevant Evidence
The first thing you should do is gather evidence that supports your personal injury case. Start by documenting issues like:
- Physical injuries: cuts, bruises, or lacerations
- Emotional distress: trauma, anxiety attacks, or nightmares
- Other sufferings: medical bills, loss of income, and pain medications
You should also collect evidence that proves the severity of your injuries, such as:
- Police reports, witness statements, accident reports, etc.
- Medical records: CT scans, X-rays, and MRI scans
- Physical therapy records: reports, assessments, and charts
- Psychological evaluations: counseling notes, psychological tests, etc.
Having access to these documents will help you fill out the necessary paperwork to file the lawsuit and increase your chances of winning the case. If gathering all this evidence seems overwhelming, ask a lawyer to help you.
Seek Medical Treatment
If you’ve sustained or suffered injuries due to another person’s negligence, make sure to seek medical treatment immediately. Medical professionals will make notes of every injury you’ve sustained and prepare legitimate medical reports. These records will serve as evidence in your personal injury claim and also represent a timeline of damages.
Your doctor may suggest you a long-term treatment plan if the injuries are severe. This plan will include tests, follow-up appointments, and other procedures. It’s recommended to carefully follow this treatment plan to not just get better but also successfully file an injury claim. Not following this plan will give the defendant a chance to lessen the value of the lawsuit.
Consider Deadlines
Most states, including Nevada’s statute of limitations for a personal injury claim due to negligence, is two years from the date of the incident that caused your injury. Make sure you consider these deadlines and contact a lawyer as soon as possible. You can discuss your case and ask how to proceed. An experienced personal injury lawyer will give you a full breakdown of the next steps, including paperwork requirements and what to do after receiving the settlement.
Refrain from Talking About it on Social Media
If you’re thinking of filing a personal injury claim, make sure you don’t discuss this on your social media profiles. Over the years, many courts have ruled that there is no privacy with social media and lawsuits. So you may have to hand over access to your accounts to the defendant’s attorney. They will scrutinize what you said about the incident and use it against you. Even if they don’t get access to your social media accounts, you may have to submit copies of photos, videos, and posts related to this lawsuit or your physical abilities.
You should also refrain from posting any activities that conflict with the injuries, even if you have fully healed at the time of case proceedings. For example, claiming a foot injury and posting a video of you running or playing sports can hurtyour claim.
Know When to Consider a Settlement
When you file a lawsuit against the person(s) responsible for your injuries, the case can proceed in two ways. You’ll have to go through a trial, or the other party will offer a settlement.
Going through a legal proceeding can be arduous and lengthy, but having an experienced attorney by your side will make things smoother. However, there can be cases where a settlement offer would be more beneficial and hassle-free. If the defendant offers a reasonable settlement offer covering the payout for medical bills, income loss, and pain and suffering compensation, consider taking it. This will save you time, legal fees, and stress.
However, you should go through the trial if the settlement offer isn’t good.
Get Legal Expertise
Hiring a lawyer or a legal team (depending on your circumstances) is the right way of proceeding with an injury claim. Personal injury attorneys have the expertise, knowledge, and experience to help you recover damages for pain and suffering and expenses for lost wages and bills. They have dealt with many similar cases and know how to get you compensation.
Before hiring a lawyer, make sure to verify their credentials, track record, and expertise. In addition, you should check their availability and if they will settle this case promptly. Once you’ve hired one, make sure to always stay in touch with them. The more transparent and open your communication is, the better legal counsel you’ll get. For example, if your injuries get worse over time or you develop a mental health issue that prevents you from performing on your job, this needs to be communicated to your lawyer.
You can find reliable personal injury case lawyers at Bourassa Law Group. The law firm offers legal services in various states, including Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. You can find attorneys for accident injury, pedestrian accident, motor vehicle cases, or any personal injury case. Contact them to get started.
