Personal injury claims vary from one individual to the other. Depending on your situation, damages sustained and the lawyer you have hired, you can either settle your claim within a few weeks up to a few years. Read on to learn more about personal injury law and what are the steps you can take to minimize the time spent on settling your claim.
What is considered a Personal Injury?
There are several situations where personal injury rules apply; however, they do not necessarily cover any sort of damage an individual sustains. Personal injury rules only apply when an individual sustains damage due to negligence from another individual, business or organization.
Most personal injuries result from traffic accidents such as motor vehicles, public transport, bicycle accidents, etc. Victims of traffic accidents can also suffer from catastrophic injuries, including:
Such injuries are extremely serious because they can often lead to permanent or partial disability and require expensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy. It’s crucial to immediately contact a lawyer if you or a loved one has suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of negligence. A personal injury lawyer helps you to attain your right to legally claim compensation to cover the damages of your personal injuries, including physical, mental, emotional or financial damage, as a result of a wrongful act or negligence.
What To Do When Sustaining a Personal Injury?
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you or your loved one has recently been in a traffic accident, your first course of action is seeking appropriate medical attention. Before contacting your lawyer, you need to undergo an immediate medical examination to avoid risking your health. Seek immediate medical attention at the nearest ER to ensure that you are safe to go home. After the accident, pay close attention to your symptoms and get them checked out at your current family doctor, or if you’re new to Alberta, you can find a family physician through the Alberta College of Family Physicians. Visiting your physician right after the accident will help you identify any hidden injuries and eliminate the scheme where insurance companies claim that you “weren’t actually injured” because you didn’t seek immediate medical attention.
When describing your injuries to your doctor, try to be as detailed as possible. With a detailed description, your medical provider will be able to accurately document your injuries in their records, which can then be used to evaluate your injury claims. No matter how minor your injury might be, it can affect your case. Maintaining your medical records should also include any relevant tests, MRIs, X-rays, CT scans, etc. These records will allow your doctor to diagnose and document your injuries properly and allow your lawyers to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident.
2. Contact James H. Brown And Associates
Addressing the injuries and getting the proper medical care can get overwhelming, especially if you’re taking care of yourself or of a loved one who is seriously injured. During this time, it is very normal for you to feel swamped as you are dealing with several things at once, such as medical documents, doctor’s visits, expenses, etc. Finding the time and energy to live through the accident again and file a claim will only add to your exhaustion, which is why you should call an injury lawyer immediately.
The sooner you contact your lawyer, the sooner you can get a professional who is ready to navigate your injury claim. You can even schedule a free, no-obligation evaluation with James H. Brown and Associates to get you started right away. Our lawyers are available to give you the legal advice you and your family need, without having to go through call centers or waiting lists. You can have direct access to our experts with just one call.
At James H.Brown and Associates, our main aim is to help individuals and their families attain just compensation and move on with their lives. While you focus on caring for yourself or your loved one, our lawyers will be on the front lines pursuing your injury claim to secure the justice you deserve. We are prepared and experienced to handle your case through any and all stages of your claim, including going to trial. With James H. Brown and Associates, you can take all the time you need to focus on recovery, knowing that your lawyer will do everything possible to push for a fair settlement.
3. Document Everything
Keeping track of your physical injuries is not the only documentation that will help your case – documenting damage to your vehicle, out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, and more will strengthen your case. By saving all your receipts, quotes and proof of expenses related to your accident, you help your lawyer accurately calculate the damage caused by the accident. Some victims choose to maintain a journal to jot down any physical or mental changes that occurred after the accident. No detail is too small; suffering from mental distress that causes you or your loved one to experience difficulty in maintaining your normal household activities or participating in regular recreational activities could also make a difference in your settlement. By providing thorough documentation to your lawyer, you are strengthening your case by proving that all damages and injuries sustained are directly caused by the accident.
Let Us Help You
Contact us today to book a free, no-obligation claim evaluation with one of James H.Brown and Associates’ experienced injury lawyers.
