Preparing To File a Personal Injury Claim

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the human condition. While this is an accepted truth, it doesn’t make it okay when you are injured due to the negligence of someone else. When you are injured because of another person, you likely feel angry in addition to the pain and stress caused by your wound.

While getting financial compensation for your experience won’t erase the suffering you have been through, it may lessen the stress of recovery for you. Getting involved in a lawsuit can seem daunting, but it can be the only way to get the recompense you deserve if you have been injured by the negligence of another individual.

So, what do you need to do to feel prepared when filing a personal injury claim?

Gather Evidence

Evidence is a vital piece of any lawsuit. It can take many forms. Witness statements, text messages, emails, and photographs are just a few examples. The evidence you can collect and use depends on the situation you are in.

For example, let’s say you trip over a box and break your ankle as you evacuate the back room of the retail store you work at while the fire alarm is going off. Earlier in the week, you sent an email to your boss that you were concerned that the obstructions on the floor of the back room were a hazard, but your boss told you not to worry about it.

Evidence you could collect in this situation includes the email chain, photos of the back room, and statements from your coworkers about the condition of the store.

Ensuring the collection of evidence as soon as possible after the incident is very important. It significantly strengthens your case and can be difficult to acquire the more time passes.

Receipts

When you are injured, you accumulate expenses. Keeping with the above example, where you’ve broken your ankle, you’ll need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Following the appointment, you will have medical bills, prescription costs, and out-of-pocket expenses like over-the-counter pain medications. This can quickly add up to a scary number.

Not everyone is lucky enough to be financially stable enough to have money saved for emergencies. Aside from the medical expenses, you will also likely need to take some time off work to recover, which can cause your financial situation to become direr.

To have a strong personal injury claim, the more information you can present, the better. Keep all of your receipts—medical bills, pharmacy expenses, and other related costs all relevant.

Calculating Lost Income

Unfortunately, most Americans don’t have a very forgiving work environment when it comes to taking time off to recover from illness or injury. It usually takes less than two weeks to run out of paid sick time. Sometimes, you may have a lot less.

When you are dealing with unexpected expenses, with no income, in addition to recovering from an injury, the stress of the situation can make everything significantly worse. However, you may be able to include lost income in the damages you seek in your personal injury suit. Lost income is any money you would have made working, had you not been injured.

If you are severely injured and are permanently unable to return to work, or only able to return in a limited capacity, you may also choose to include lost future income in the damages you seek. 

Get Legal Support When Filing 

Filing a lawsuit following your injury can feel incredibly overwhelming. Even though you may need the money, starting the process is never easy – so don’t do it alone.

At The Nye Law Group, we are experienced with all kinds of personal injury cases, and we understand what you’re dealing with. We want to get you the maximum compensation you deserve while taking away as much of your stress as we possibly can.

If you are thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit, don’t wait. Call 912-200-5230 today to get the expert, compassionate help you deserve!