Document, Document, Document

One of the most important factors in a personal injury case is clear, accurate documentation. The best way to substantiate your injuries and tally up your losses is through accurate record keeping. 

Proper documentation is the one way to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Failing to document your case is a costly mistake!  Check out the following tips to document all aspects of your personal injury case. 

Document the Accident

Always call the police even if the accident occurs on private land. The police are considered a neutral third party, so if they make a report of the accident, you’ll have a weighty piece of evidence on which to build your case.

Take lots of pictures. Clear, sharp images are needed. Take more pictures than you think you need. Don’t forget to take shots of the surroundings, including any objects such as road signs that can help establish your claim. For example, if the person who struck you turned illegally onto a one-way street, you’d want to have photos that show the one-way street sign near your car and the defendant’s car.

If you can get a video of the accident, you’ll only strengthen your case. That’s a good reason to have dashcam-style video cameras mounted and operating in your car. If you don’t have a video camera in your car, there’s a chance that an eyewitness driving another vehicle captured the accident on his dashcam.

The potential helpfulness of eyewitnesses is the reason that you should always try to get the names and contact information of any other drivers who stopped at the scene of the accident.

If evidence is not properly recorded and preserved early on in your case there is a chance it might be lost, damaged, or deemed inadmissible. To make sure this doesn’t happen it’s in your best interest to consult with an attorney as soon as possible following your accident. 

Document Your Injuries

Always agree to go to the hospital when you’ve had an accident. First, at the time of the accident, you can’t trust your perception of your condition because of adrenaline. Adrenaline can interfere with your ability to perceive pain and remember events. You may only feel the pain and remember details once your stress level has returned to normal.

The ER doctor will be able to accurately assess your medical condition and provide a professionally written summary of your injuries. This step is important. If you skip this step, you could endanger your case. Your injuries will come under greater-than-normal scrutiny by the defendant’s insurance company if they aren’t documented until days or weeks after your injury.

You should also take pictures of your injuries. Take pictures before and after you’ve been treated at the hospital and of your healing process.

A video goes a long way here also toward increasing your odds of receiving the maximum settlement you’re entitled to. If possible, video record your physical rehabilitation sessions. Capture footage of how your injuries are affecting your life. The sight of you struggling to regain basic abilities such as walking, bending over, or putting on your shoes powerfully illustrates the extent of your injuries and the challenges they are presenting in your day-to-day life.

Document Your Damages

Don’t have a family friend who’s not a professional mechanic or body shop expert work on your car. Once again, you want documentation written by a recognized, legitimate business.

You should seek similar paperwork from other relevant professionals if there were personal items in your vehicle that were damaged, such as your smartphone or computer.

Document Your Recovery

Keep every pill bottle and receipt related to your accident. Keep a diary of your trips to the doctor, hospital, physical rehabilitation, mental health therapist, lawyer, auto mechanic, and so forth.

These records will not only substantiate your financial claims,  they will also show how much time and effort were required to treat the physical and mental injuries you received in the accident.

Get Experienced Help with Your Injury Lawsuit

Your need for a professional doesn’t end with just a doctor or a mechanic. You also need a professional injury lawsuit attorney. An experienced attorney will take all of your documentation and use it to create a solid case that will get you the compensation you deserve to get your life back on track.

Don’t hesitate. Contact Verhine Law at 601-GET-HELP (438-4357) or online to schedule your free consultation now.

The post What’s the Worst Mistake Made in Personal Injury Cases? appeared first on Verhine Law.

1. Who will pay for all of this?
2. How much is my case worth?
3. Should I hire an attorney?

Between expensive car repairs, time away from work, medical expenses, healing from your injuries, and dealing with unfair insurance companies – you’ve got a lot on your plate. 

This is precisely why many people choose to hire an attorney – to alleviate some of the stress that results from an accident, to get answers to all of your questions, and to make sure you get the full compensation you deserve. 

Do You Really Need a Lawyer?

If you’ve been involved in an accident, you have two options: tackle your claim yourself or rely on an experienced lawyer to handle it for you. 

Take a look at several reasons why it makes sense to let a lawyer handle your accident claim:

You Might Inadvertently Hurt Your Case

If you choose to represent yourself in your personal injury case, you could say or do things that may jeopardize your chances of recovering fair compensation. For example, in some contexts, a simple apology could be interpreted as an admission of liability. Even if you do not completely admit fault, if you mistakenly say something that indicates partial liability, it could significantly affect the amount of compensation you end up receiving. When you retain a lawyer, he or she will communicate with the insurance company or the other party on your behalf, ensuring that you do not say or do anything to hurt your case.

Experience and Expertise You Can Depend On

There’s nothing simple about law, especially when it comes to automobile accidents. Without legal experience, you’re at the mercy of the insurance company and their highly paid lawyers to give you a fair settlement.

Keep in mind that insurance companies are in business to make money. They want to protect their own interests first, which means paying out as little as possible. Without experience or legal representation, it’s easy to be taken advantage of. 

An experienced car accident attorney ensures you start off on a level playing field and get treated fairly.

They Know How to Take On Insurance Company Bullies

You may believe that making an insurance claim is a simple, black-and-white situation – that you present the information regarding your injuries and the company gives you a fair and proper settlement. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. 

The insurance adjuster’s job is to minimize the amount their company has to payout. They’ll start with a low settlement offer in hopes that you’ll accept it and sign a release waiving your rights to make any future claims regarding the accident. Many accident victims fail to realize that an offer is inadequate and they lose their rights to the compensation they deserve.

Attorneys know how to properly value your claim and deal with the insurance adjusters who may otherwise pressure you into signing an unfair settlement agreement. 

Your lawyer will handle all the hurdles set forth by the insurance company on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery.

Help Prove Liability

A successful car accident lawsuit hinges on whether you can prove fault or liability. To do this, you’ll need evidence from accident reports, witness testimony, and other pieces of data to support your claim.

Lawyers are skilled at collecting evidence that meets the strict standards of admissibility. They know exactly how to present the data to give your case the best possible outcome. 

Prevent Evidence from Being Lost or Destroyed

If you wait to start gathering evidence or don’t follow proper protocols it’s possible that evidence will be lost, destroyed, or inadmissible – for example, video surveillance footage can be deleted, memories can fade, and documents can be lost. When you retain an attorney they will immediately start collecting evidence on your behalf, minimizing the chances that evidence critical to your case will be lost or destroyed.

Maximize the Value of Your Claim

Now you know that the first offer the insurance company makes is never the best, but how much money would make the settlement offer fair?

Car accident claims aren’t easy to value and depend on many factors, which could put you at a disadvantage if you try to figure it out yourself. 

Medical bills, car repairs/ replacement, rental vehicles, property damage, and missed time from work can all add up. If you’re unable to go back to your job due to injury, future income loss should be factored in as well.

In addition, the pain and suffering you face should also be accounted for in your settlement.

An attorney will ensure you don’t miss anything and that you get the highest settlement amount for your claim.

Represent You in Court

If the insurance company that you are dealing with is unwilling or unable to make a reasonable settlement offer, it may be necessary to take your case to trial. The process of filing and conducting a personal injury lawsuit is extremely complicated and attempting to represent yourself puts you at a distinct disadvantage. 

Insurance companies are in the business of denying claims and undoubtedly have a team of skilled insurance defense lawyers ready to litigate a case at the drop of a hat. As an accident victim, you need to be prepared to take your case to trial, and the best way to do that is by working with an attorney who has a proven track record of getting their clients the settlements they deserve.

Get Help Today! Contact Verhine Law For a Free Case Evaluation

Partnering with a car accident attorney won’t solve all your problems, but it can help ease your path to recovery. Receiving a fair settlement for your accident can take away the financial stress and help you move on from your accident with confidence. 

Call Verhine Law at 601-GET-HELP (438-4357) or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation today!

The post Do I Need an Attorney? The Top Reasons to Hire a Car Accident Attorney appeared first on Verhine Law.

All accident-related injuries are not immediately apparent. Some can remain hidden for weeks. Not seeking medical treatment following an accident, even if you don’t think you’re injured, can wind up being a very costly mistake. 

Minor Accidents Can Still Mean Major Injuries 

It doesn’t matter if you were involved in a low-speed collision or if you walked away with little damage to your car. Even what appears to be a “small accident” can cause permanent soft tissue injuries. 

Do not assume that just because you walked away you’re okay. Leave that determination up to medical professionals. You might not feel like you’re injured but don’t take any chances, especially considering some injuries are not always obvious right away.

Minor Injuries Can Be More Serious Than You Realize

Sometimes what you think is just a minor injury turns out to be much worse than you expected. You may only be experiencing mild pain or discomfort now, but what happens if that pain hasn’t gone away in two weeks, or gets even worse?

Seeking medical treatment now ensures you are covered for future treatment if your injury ends up being more serious than you initially thought it was. 

Hidden Injuries Can Take Weeks To Show Symptoms

There could be “unseen” injuries waiting to bring you pain. Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, are common in accidents. 

Imagine a whip snapping. The rope curls at the end and quickly snaps back. In a rear-impact car accident, your neck does the same thing. Ouch, right? 

Many people downplay the seriousness of whiplash and other soft tissue injuries. Did you know the symptoms experienced after whiplash can last a lifetime? They can be chronic and debilitating. 

The problem with some injuries is the symptoms do not always show themselves immediately after an accident. It can take several weeks for symptoms to manifest. Often, because of the delayed onset, people don’t even realize the symptoms they’re experiencing are related to the accident they had weeks ago. 

Symptoms to look out for that could be tied to a hidden accident-related injury include:

• Swelling/Inflammation 
• Back pain
• Neck pain/stiffness

• Headaches
• Ringing in the ears
• Fatigue
• Pain when moving the affected body part
• Cognitive impairment (trouble concentrating or remembering information)
• Hallucinations
• Mood irregularities 
• Sleep disturbances or difficulties 

If you were in an accident and have been experiencing any of the symptoms above you should seek medical attention immediately. 

Protect Yourself from Legal Doubt 

Not going to the hospital or seeking professional medical care after a car accident has legal consequences. If you delay seeking medical attention you could adversely affect the value of any personal injury claim later arising from the accident.

If you file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your losses the insurance company can use your delay in treatment to discredit your claim. They will use anything they can against you to keep your settlement as low as possible or to deny your claim altogether. To keep this from happening you should have an experienced personal injury attorney at your side. 

Get The Compensation You Deserve – Contact Verhine Law Today!

If you’ve been injured in an accident it’s crucial that you act quickly. Time is not on your side. To protect your legal rights and make sure you get the best settlement possible you should consult with an attorney right away. 

The experienced team at Verhine Law is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 601-GET-HELP (438-4357) or contact us online for your FREE case evaluation now!

The post Hidden Car Accident Injuries: Why You Should Always Seek Medical Attention appeared first on Verhine Law.