If you sustained an injury in an accident because of another party’s negligent actions, you can pursue compensation for these injuries and other losses by filing a personal injury claim. However, the claim process can be confusing for a lot of people. But when it is explained by a Personal Injury Attorney in Philadelphia, PA, you can easily understand the steps to take.
It’s important to know the basics of the personal injury process. And your lawyer can break down every step for you. These steps include the following:
Hiring a Lawyer
Although hiring an attorney is a legal requirement, doing so is in your best interest. An attorney can help you get maximum compensation and lessen the stress you deal with. In addition, having an experienced and knowledgeable expert on your side can give you an upper hand over the claims process. Make sure you do your homework first before you hire an attorney to ensure you work with one who has extensive experience in handling your type of case and a good track record of success.
Filing a Complaint
When you hire an attorney, they will communicate with the insurance company for you. After you sustained an injury, you must notify the at-fault party and their insurance provider about your intention to file a personal injury claim. Then, the insurer will assign an insurance adjuster to handle your claim.
Collecting Evidence
In the discovery phase, attorneys of both parties will request evidence and information about any witnesses from the other. They will collect evidence, investigate your injury claim, talk to witnesses, and question both parties. In addition, both lawyers will start to collect records, medical bills, wage information, police reports, and insurance details. These pieces of information will help them understand what truly occurred and quantify how much you are owed.
Settling the Claim
The settlement process is meant to allow both parties involved to reach a settlement agreement. When you accept the settlement offer from the insurance company, you will give up your rights to further compensation. Because of this, your attorney will advise against accepting the company’s first offer since this is usually smaller than what you deserve. Negotiations during the settlement phase can happen back and forth until the parties reach an agreement. Otherwise, your case may go to court.
Going to Trial
Should settlement negotiations fail, your attorney can take your case to trial. When this happens, a jury or judge will decide whether or not you deserve compensation and how much. However, court trials are time-consuming and expensive.
