What happens in a personal injury claim? At what point should you seek an attorney’s help? How long will it take to get your settlement, and how much is your case worth? These are common questions everyone has for their attorney when filing a personal injury case.
While there is no single answer to these questions, our experienced injury attorneys at Friedman Schuman Layser will stay in contact with you throughout the entire personal injury case process in Fort Washington. In general, the following are the stages a case goes through as it progresses from accident to settlement.
A personal injury claim begins with an accident or injury. After an accident, whether it be a motor vehicle wreck, a slip and fall, or a pedestrian collision, you should immediately seek medical attention, even if you feel okay afterward, and keep copies of all documents you receive from the doctor, including bills and invoices.
Always follow your doctor’s instructions. If you go to the emergency room, be sure to follow up with your primary care doctor. As our Fort Washington attorneys can further explain during your initial consultation, treatment guidelines can be essential to the evidence used in the personal injury case process.
If you can, collect as much evidence at the scene as possible. Photos, videos, witness contact information, and a police report (if applicable) are all essential for your claim. Our Fort Washington personal injury attorneys can also help gather important documentation to be used during the claims process.
You may not always need a Fort Washington attorney for every accident, but you should always talk to one before beginning an insurance filing or personal injury case process. Your lawyer can provide valuable information about your case, review your paperwork, and, if you receive a settlement offer, let you know if it is too low. If you decide to hire an attorney, they can handle all negotiations with the insurance agents and, if necessary, take your case to court.
If you have been seriously injured, your case will not progress until you reach “maximum medical improvement” or MMI. Your attorney cannot make a demand until everyone knows how much your total damages will be, including your total medical costs, total lost wages, and any future expenses or loss of income.
It is most important to work with an attorney at this stage of the Fort Washington personal injury case process. Your lawyer can send a formal demand letter to the insurer and negotiate with them on your behalf. Our team can also negotiate with healthcare providers to reduce costs and help you get a larger share of the settlement.
Insurers try to keep their payout as low as possible and try to minimize your pain and suffering and any future medical needs. Negotiations are often the longest part of a personal injury case.
If negotiations do not resolve your personal injury case, your Fort Washington attorney may recommend going to trial. Sometimes this helps settle a case, since insurance companies do not like going to trial, especially against experienced trial lawyers like those at Friedman Schuman Layser. Litigation is expensive, and juries often give plaintiffs (you) larger awards than insurers want to pay.
Litigation, when it occurs, can drag on for many months or years, another reason why both sides prefer to settle rather than go to court. When you have a skilled legal team at your side, litigation is rarely the outcome.
The personal injury case process in Fort Washington does not need to be a struggle. Contact our compassionate attorneys at Friedman Schuman Layser if you have a personal injury claim.
