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Personal injury claims are incredibly common, and in the US, only around 4% ever make it to court. Therefore, it is important to be aware of what to do if you or your business gets sued. Most are settled internally or dropped altogether. If you get injured and it’s not your fault, how can you make sure your case is settled fairly? Let’s break down the essentials of a personal injury case, so whether you’ve been injured or not, you’ll be ready.
Know The Process
Cases can be very complex and can become bogged down in the court process for a long time. It’s essential that you know the process inside out before you begin, that way you’ll be able to judge whether it’s even worth carrying out your claim. Have your story straight for the inevitable deposition, where the attorneys from either side can gather facts to be used in front of a judge, and make sure to do your research on what happens after the deposition so you’re prepared for the journey ahead. You can leverage this knowledge to ask for larger settlements, or save legal costs by accelerating the proceedings.
Financial Planning
Going through a lawsuit can be a long, difficult, and potentially expensive process. Many lawyers are ‘no win, no fee’, but there are the personal expenses of missing additional work for trial dates, meetings, and depositions, along with travel expenses and just the use of your time. You can use elements of small business financial statement forms to mitigate these expenses, as well. For major life events like this, financial planning can be key.
It can be useful to use a settlement calculator, which will estimate the value of your case based on the information you provide. That way you’ll know whether you’re spending your time wisely, and you’ll know if you’ve got a fair deal.
Gathering The Facts
Make sure you write down a detailed account of the event as soon as possible. In a car accident or other public incident, there’s likely to be witnesses, you’ll need to make sure that your story is backed up word for word. If you’re planning ahead, then a dash cam or personal security camera will make your case watertight. With these facts gathered, you may be entitled to a larger settlement.
Get Your Paperwork Straight
Before you get anywhere near the court, you should get your paperwork filed and easy to access. If it’s a car accident or another incident that involves personal or business insurance, then get all of your insurance policies together, on paper and digitally. You don’t want to be caught out on an insurance problem or stuck in a paperwork nightmare where your opponent could run you in circles looking for the right dotted line. Get organized, and get ahead. With organized paperwork, your legal team processes the facts rapidly. This way, they can significantly accelerate the case itself, reducing your legal fees.
Stress-Busting
Win or lose, court proceedings are among the most stressful things you’ll ever do. Take the time to talk the case through with friends and family, build a reliable support network and manage your time effectively. It can be easy to let a claim take over your life, so try to continue living as normally as possible during the proceedings. Keeping a journal throughout can be very helpful to take the weight off and to make sure you don’t forget anything, and daily meditation is always useful, no matter the situation. Using training plan template can also reduce your stress levels significantly. Of course, these activities prevent further injury and may reduce your time in court. This way, you reduce medical costs and attorney fees.
Maintain Attorney Communication
Of course, communication is an imperative aspect of an attorney-client relationship. During the time leading up to your case, it’s crucial to maintain consistent, frequent, and open communication with your representation. This way, you can tell your attorney about any new developments. For example, if your injury progresses and impacts your ability to work, this development must be factored into the proceedings. Additionally, you can help your attorney provide the best possible representation by answering any questions they may have. Since your legal team is there to provide you peace of mind and confidence in the case, they tend to be always open to communication. With regular contact, you can stay up-to-date on the status of your payments, settlements, or disbursements.
