The first thing you will need to do is hire an experienced personal injury lawyer who will explain the process to you and initiate a claim against the other party’s insurance company.
Your attorney will handle the legal part of your case and your doctor will handle the medical part of it. The two of them will work together to ensure that your claim is in the best possible position to maximize a settlement for you.
What that means is that your attorney will be contact with your doctor in order to obtain medical records outlining the nature and extent of your injuries. Medical records are very important to your claim as they help educate the insurance company about your injuries and treatment as well as how your life has been impacted.
In the event you missed time from work, your attorney will work with your employer to secure whatever employment records are necessary to prove the amount of time and money you lost.
Your attorney will also be in contact with any witnesses to the incident that gave rise to your injuries or who can describe how the injuries have affected your daily life.
Finally, once you have been released from medical care, your attorney will provide the insurance company a “settlement package” which will include copies of the following:
- The Police Accident or Incident Report;
- Witness Statement;
- Photographs;
- Medical Records and Medical Bills;
- Lost Wage Information &
- Finally, a Settlement Demand.
In the event your attorney and the insurance company are unable to agree on a settlement amount that is acceptable to you, then your attorney will file a lawsuit in an effort to secure the proper settlement amount for you.