If you’ve been recently injured through no fault of your own, you probably have a lot of questions about how personal injury settlements work.
Below you’ll learn the basics of personal injury settlements, and what you can do to ensure that your case goes as smoothly as possible.
Personal Injury Law Basics
Personal injury law is also known as tort law. If you are injured and it was not your fault, personal injury law allows you to go to civil court to recover the losses you incurred because of your accident. Personal injury law is in place to make sure you can be financially compensated for any injuries.
Personal injury cases may occur after accidents where someone has caused your injury due to negligence or carelessness, or if they intentionally tried to harm you such as through assault or battery. Personal injury cases also include injuries that were caused by a defective product. Finally, if your reputation is harmed because of someone’s defamatory statement, you can file a personal injury claim.
What to Do After an Injury
All accidents are different, so there is no uniform process that happens with every case of personal injury. However, whether you’re wondering “How does a car accident settlement work, or how does a slip and fall settlement work?”, there are some basic things you should do regardless of the circumstances.
No matter what kind of accident you’ve been in, you’ll want to do several things immediately. First, get medical attention. Even if you don’t feel like you are seriously injured, some injuries can take time to surface. In addition, the opinion of a medical professional will be essential to you being compensated for any medical bills you accrue.
Also make sure to get a copy of the police report, take photos and witness statements at the scene, and gather any other evidence that seems relevant. Keep copies of all receipts.
Working With Insurance Companies
Personal injury claims are typically handled by insurance companies. You will report your injury to the insurance company of the party that injured you. Then, the insurance company will offer you a settlement if they agree that the other party was at fault. If you accept the settlement, you cannot file a lawsuit. This settlement will typically happen out of court.
If the settlement seems unfair to you, you can either negotiate with the insurance company or move forward and file a personal injury lawsuit. After you file your lawsuit, settlement negotiations typically continue. You can settle at any point before your case goes to court, and this is usually what happens. If you do not settle, your case will go to court and be decided by a jury.
If you decide to file a lawsuit, or if you feel the insurance company’s settlement is unfair, it’s a good idea to work with a Personal Injury lawyer. They will ensure that you stay on top of deadlines, have access to professional experts who can support your case, and will coach you through your testimony if necessary.
If you’ve been injured in an accident and want to know more about your rights, download our personal injury recovery kit or contact us for a consultation.
