If you have suffered mild to severe injuries after a car accident, workplace incident or other event, you will need to file an injury compensation claim to recover damages related to the accident. You can maximize your injury compensation claim by hiring a personal injury attorney to handle the claims-filing and negotiation processes. A personal injury attorney can help you file your claim and ensure that you are providing enough supporting information to back up your claim. Certain details and supporting documents can help to increase the amount of compensation you receive.
When to File an Injury Compensation Claim
Many people don’t realize that there is a time limit on when you can file an injury compensation claim after an accident, and may neglect to recognize an event as an accident. If you have reported the accident to the appropriate authority or authorities, such as your employer, a building owner or an insurance company, the next step is to begin processing your claim. It is in your best interest to write down all of the details pertaining to the accident, determine who was at fault for the incident, and take photographs of the accident scene if possible. All of this information can be very helpful when filing an injury compensation claim.
In most cases, any legal proceedings related to an accident and personal injury claims will need to be started within three years of the date of the accident. This limitation period varies from state to state, and your personal injury attorney can advise you about deadlines sand provide information on when to start the claims filing process.
Maximizing Your Injury Compensation Claim
When you work with a personal injury attorney to prepare and file your injury compensation claim, he or she will review your case in detail and determine the extent of the injuries associated with your claim. In some cases, the personal injury attorney will consult with a medical professional and investigators to determine the extent of your injuries and ensure that all types of damages associated with the incident are covered.
In order to determine the total value of your injury compensation claim, the personal injury attorney will factor in the following:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of future wages
- Transportation expenses
- Vehicle and property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of medical benefits or disability benefits
- Emotional distress
Undergoing a thorough medical evaluation shortly after the accident can also help increase the amount you receive because it proves to the insurance company that you are serious about getting well and are taking the initiative to improve your health.
