So, you’ve been injured and believe it’s someone else’s fault. This can be an extremely frustrating situation to find yourself in, leaving you hurt and potentially out of pocket. The first thing that comes to mind then is whether you can sue the other party. After all, you’re hurt physically and mentally and stuck at home unable to work.
So, what can you do if you think you want to sue someone? In this article, we will discuss a few simple steps to take if you have been injured by someone else and think you should file a lawsuit. Whether it’s an injury on the roads, at work, or on any other premises, this guide should help you understand the how’s, when’s, and why’s of filing a lawsuit.
Can Insurance Help?
Before you rush into making plans for lawsuits, it’s worth considering whether any insurance is in place that could help in this situation. If you have your own medical or vehicle insurance, for example, can it pay out and cover all your costs without personally affecting you? Or, did the other party have insurance and are willing to use it to cover all your costs? It is worth reaching out to the second party and questioning them about insurance first.
Should You Hire An Attorney?
But, even reaching out to the other party about insurance can be daunting. Plus, how do you know if they’re telling the truth or giving you a fair deal? This is such the case in certain areas in Alabama, where claiming insurance can be a harrowing ordeal. This is why a Fort Rucker personal injury attorney always recommends speaking to a lawyer first. This legal professional is always here to help and give advice and even if you don’t think a claim can go all the way, an attorney will be able to lead you down the right path for your particular case. Many law firms and individual attorneys will offer first meetings for free. Some will even take the case all the way for you without any upfront fee, instead of taking any wages from profits or the defendant’s side. We certainly recommend reaching out to a law firm before anything else, as there is nothing to lose by doing so and everything to gain.
Evidence of Injury
The first thing an attorney will ask you is whether you have evidence of your injury. This could include medical reports, photos of the injury, and reports of the incident. It is important that you gather as much of this evidence as soon as possible to help you and your lawyer build the strongest possible case. Ideally, straight after the accident, you should have attended an emergency room or doctor’s surgery to get a report on your injuries.
Other Evidence
Evidence of the injury is not enough to prove it was another party’s fault. You need to – especially in a court of law – prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone else was at fault for your injury. You need as much evidence as possible showing that someone else’s negligence caused your injury. In the case of an accident on the road, for example, you’ll need reports from the police, photographs, CCTV, and anything else you can get a hold of to prove it was the other driver’s fault. Witness statements are also extremely helpful in the case of road accidents.
If you were injured in your workplace or other business premises, it can be harder to gather such evidence. You may not be able to access their CCTV without a warrant and you may find yourself going toe to toe against a large corporation. Your lawyer will be able to subpoena people and gather evidence like this on your behalf. Again, though, take pictures of the hazards involved and the damage it did in the immediate aftermath. Make sure you report injuries correctly through the venue or office logbooks. Every single time or way that you report and document your accident can and likely will help.
Types of Damages
If your case makes it to court, or your lawyers have meetings with the defendants, you should know what kind of damages you could receive. General damages cover the physical and mental sides of the accident. How it has affected your mind, your body in the short and long-term, and lower quality of life would all be covered here. The value of damages will often be linked to medical reports and prognosis, which Is why you need good medical reporting on any accident.
You will likely also sue for special damages such as loss of earnings, travel expenses (to and from the hospital, for example), medical expenses, or future recommended treatment. Keep every receipt for every taxi, every medical bill, and every communication with your place of work and provide all of these to your lawyer so they can get you the best compensation possible.
Gathering the right evidence is crucial, as is finding a good lawyer. With these two things in place, you’ll be looking at substantial compensation and a happy outcome to an unpleasant situation.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com. Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox. Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com
KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
No comments:
Post a Comment