Fortunately, being the injured party may entitle you to a right to recover fair financial compensation for the collision's damages. Below are some tips in dealing with damages from a car accident:
Get Familiar With The Damages You Can Collect
Unless you're a lawyer yourself, you probably don't know what “damages” mean. In the legal sense, damages are defined as the estimated monetary compensation that you can recover due to the injuries and losses you've suffered as a result of an accident.
To collect these damages, you usually have to file an injury claim with the responsible party's insurance company. Besides, under the law, the person at fault for the accident should be held accountable for compensating the offended party for the losses they've incurred.
If you want to ensure that you’re able to maximise your compensation, the following are the damages you should get familiar with:
- Medical Costs – If you're injured and need treatment, the medical expenses should be included in the compensation you're entitled to. This is why you should seek medical attention immediately to secure some medical records to support your claim.
- Lost Wages – Of course, your injuries need some time to recover. But in doing so, you might not be able to work. As a result, you'd miss out on income for a specific period. Luckily, lost wages from missing work is one of the damages you can collect from an accident.
- Property Damages – If you need to repair your damaged vehicle, you can have the costs collected as compensation for the property damages caused by the accident.
- Pain And Suffering – This type of damages depends on the extent of your physical injuries, the effect of the accident on your quality of life, and the emotional impact it has brought to your life. The pain and suffering damages include embarrassment, loss of enjoyment in life, therapy for anxiety and depression, and many more.
To collect these damages, you usually have to file an injury claim with the responsible party's insurance company.
Work With An Attorney
If you have no idea how to settle your damages, you should hire an attorney to handle your car accident claim on your behalf. When you have a legal professional on your side, you can get proper advice about your situation and available legal options. Also, they can evaluate your case, negotiate a fair settlement, protect you from the dirty tactics of the insurance company, and make sure you're represented aggressively, so you get the compensation you deserve.
That said, find an attorney who can protect your rights and interests. For example, if you've been injured in a car accident in Houston, look for someone specializing in personal injury cases in that area. With several attorneys to choose from, it's best to conduct a little research to help narrow down your options. You can ask for some referrals from your loved ones or check some prospects online. You can also read some reviews online to know the performance of your candidates in handling personal injury cases.
By doing these things, you can find the right legal representative for your case.
Secure Some Pieces Of Evidence
Whether you're negotiating with the responsible party's insurance company or filing a personal injury lawsuit claim in court, the presentation of evidence is vital in a personal injury trial. That's because it's one of the best ways to prove that someone else's negligence caused your injuries. This means that the more pieces of evidence you’re able to gather, the higher your chance will be to recover just and fair compensation for your damages.
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To do this, you shouldn't forget to take images of the accident area, as well as your injuries and the damages to your vehicle. Also, find time to gather some critical information from your witnesses. Lastly, keep a copy of the police report and your medical records to strengthen the authenticity of your claim.
File Your Case Immediately
After you've sustained injuries from the car accident, it shouldn’t take you long to file your claim and recover the compensation you deserve. This is especially true if you're elevating your case to the court, where the statute of limitations or deadlines apply.
Thus, if you don't want your time to run out and waive your right to get compensation for the damages, you should file your case as soon as possible. Know the applicable statute of limitations in your area and have your attorney check it. In doing so, you can make the most out of your chances to get compensated for the damages caused by the accident.
Closing Words
Getting involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. Aside from injuries and property damages, you have to deal with other damages, such as lost wages and even pain and suffering. Therefore, if you're looking to settle these damages without hassle, keep these tips in mind and hire the best personal injury lawyer. That way, you can get a legal outcome in your favor.
