NEWS
How to Make Sure You Get Compensated for Personal Injury
There were 35,878 injury-causing crashes in Arizona during 2022, 1,178 of which were fatal. During that same year, there were also 103 fatal work injuries. Suffering a personal injury due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another person, whether in Arizona or a different state, can take a long time to get over, as well as cost you and your family money. The average cost of an overnight stay in a US hospital is around $2,607. Getting fair compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering is extremely important.
Here are some tips to help make sure you get properly compensated after a personal injury:
Document Your Injuries
It’s critical to fully document the details of your injury as soon as possible after it occurs. Take photos of any visible injuries, bruising, or damage to your body. Get copies of all medical records, bills, and notes related to diagnosing and treating your injury. If you missed work due to the injury, get documentation from your employer. All of this creates a paper trail that proves your injuries were directly caused by the accident or incident.
Hire an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer
Working with experienced personal injury attorneys is key to getting maximum compensation. Personal injury law can be complex, with strict deadlines and procedural rules that must be followed. A qualified lawyer understands the full value of your claim based on legal precedent and can aggressively negotiate or take your case to court if needed. Many personal injury attorneys work on contingency fees, meaning you only pay if they secure compensation for you.
Calculate Your Total Losses
Make sure you account for all the ways the personal injury has impacted your life, health, and finances. Look beyond just medical bills to include lost income from missed work, property damage like a totaled car, and pain and suffering damages. Your lawyer can help fully evaluate both economic and non-economic losses. Keep detailed records as the losses accumulate.
Cooperate Fully with Your Attorney
Help your attorney build the strongest case possible by cooperating at every stage. Give them full information upfront about how the injury occurred and its effects. Respond promptly to requests for documents or meetings. Follow your lawyer’s advice such as only discussing the case with them and not posting about it on social media. Being an engaged client improves your odds.
Consider Alternative Dispute Resolution
Cases don’t always have to go to trial. In fact, less than 5% of cases end up going to trial. Most settle long before. Many personal injury claims get settled through negotiation or mediation which resolves the case faster. Your attorney may recommend arbitration or a settlement hearing which can be less adversarial. Be open to alternatives but don’t accept a deal that doesn’t fairly compensate you.
Remain Realistic In Your Expectations
While you deserve fair compensation, understand that the settlement may not be as high as you hope. The average settlement for a car accident is $20k-$25k. Factors like shared fault for the accident, limits on insurance coverage, and state damage caps all impact the potential payout. Listen to your attorney’s assessment of what’s a realistic outcome. Getting some compensation is better than a lengthy court battle yielding nothing.
Suffering a personal injury can negatively impact nearly every aspect of life. Following these tips helps ensure you receive the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Harper Harrison is a reporter for The Hear UP. Harper got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. harper has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Harper covers health and science for The Hear UP.