After you've been injured in an accident, you need to take action fast to ensure you get the settlement you deserve for both damages and injuries. One of the first steps you should take is to contact an attorney who can help you fight for what you deserve. However, there is a lot of other steps to take too. Check out these three steps to take after you've been injured in a car accident.
Go to the Doctor Immediately
Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need or want to take an ambulance to the emergency room. If this is the case, do it. Going to the ER right after the accident and having a doctor immediately note your injuries is a great way to prove your injures are so severe you had to seek medical attention fast. Even if you don't need to go to the ER or you don't think your injures are severe enough to seek action, go to your doctor. Only your doctor can tell you the extent of your injuries. If your doctor gives you a treatment plan, make sure to follow it to prove to the court you are attempting to get better.
Determine if You Are Partially Responsible
The other individual involved may be completely responsible for your injury. However, in other cases, you may be partially responsible for your own injuries. This is because everyone has a duty to avoid bodily harm. Therefore, if you weren't paying attention or were participating in a dangerous activity, you may be found partially responsible. In some states, your settlement is reduced by the percent you are responsible (if you are 10 percent responsible, your settlement is reduced by 10 percent). Usually, the other person needs to be mostly responsible for the injury for you to sue and win. In other states, however, if you are even a little responsible, you won't get any money.
Work With Your Attorney to Increase the Settlement
You don't actually need an attorney to get a settlement. The insurance company uses a formula to determine how much they feel you deserve. They calculate all your medical expenses and multiplies it by a number that represents the severity of the accident. That is your settlement. However, they don't consider other factors like lost income and pain and suffering. That is why you want an attorney. Your attorney is skilled and trained to negotiate with insurance companies and get the money you need in the short-term and long-term.
After an accident that wasn't your fault, you need to focus on healing, but you also deserve a fair settlement. Instead of struggling with both yourself, get a personal injury attorney who can do all the paperwork for you and get you the money you deserve. Contact a company like The Fitzpatrick Law Firm for more information and assistance.
Share12 February 2018
The laws governing child custody and guardianship can be confusing. As a family attorney, I have helped many clients gain legal guardianship over a foster child or a relative's child. Getting legal guardianship of a child you are caring for is important because you need to be able to make decisions about that child's education, health care and other matters. This blog will help you navigate the world of legal guardianship and show you how to take steps to get guardianship over a child whether the child's parents are cooperative or not. Legal guardianship does matter even if a child is not going to be adopted. I hope to help people find the way to get this done.
