Many people may have a personal injury case and be unaware. Have you ever had a slip and fall or any other type of accident caused by someone else’s negligence? You’re not alone. According to the Center for Disease Control, over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury.

Also, statistics from the US Bureau of Justice show that plaintiffs cited personal injury as the type of harm involved in 92% of mass tort cases. You would need to undergo a process before getting compensation. If you’re curious about this, this article outlines the process for you. If you have been in any type of accident due to someone else’s negligence, you should contact a personal injury attorney today.

What Are the Processes Involved in a Personal Injury Case?

Below is a list of the steps involved in a personal injury case:

• Handle the Injury

Various types of accidents can cause personal injuries. It could be a slip and fall in your local Walmart, a bite from your neighbor’s dog, or a car accident. Depending on the severity of your injury, you might need medical attention as soon as possible.

If you were able to call 911 or someone was able to call emergency services, you should get pictures of the scene. Also, if you can speak to witnesses and document their accounts of the incident, this will be useful. Some other steps need to be taken at this stage, such as talking to the property or business owner and filing a police report.

• Seek Medical Attention

You cannot make a successful personal injury claim without some kind of evidence that you received medical attention for the injury. As such, you should get immediate medical attention and treatment for the wound. Even if you don’t feel like you have any severe injury, a recorded visit to the doctor will help your claim. It will also ensure that you are in perfect health and the doctor can also find out if you have any internal injuries. If you end up getting treated, you should ensure that you get all records of your visit.

• Consult a Lawyer

When you suffer a personal injury, you should speak to an attorney. Your initial consultation with a lawyer will help you understand what you need to do. You will also find out what steps you need to go ahead. An attorney will tell you what compensation to expect from the insurance company.

If the insurance company has offered you an amount, you can also discover if the payment is fair. A personal injury lawyer will also let you know if you have a valid claim or not.  Sometimes, you may think that you do not have a case based on what you have heard from people. This might be wrong and an experienced lawyer will help you prove that.

• Investigate the Case 

If you hire a lawyer, they will start investigating your case. An investigation ensures that the lawyer has the evidence required to build your case. Even if you know what happened and have spoken with witnesses, lawyers know what questions to ask. They know what camera footage to find, what people to talk to, what records to search through, etc. This way, they can prove your case and help you win.

• File an Insurance Claim

The next step would be for your lawyers to file an insurance claim with the insurer. If you have not filed this before, your lawyer will send a legal letter demanding a settlement with a specific amount that you have decided upon. This way, even if the insurer has offered you a payment, you can move past that to what is fair to you.

• Negotiate a Settlement

When you have an attorney, the whole case likely boils down to a negotiation. The insurer might not accept your initial claim and might try to negotiate. This is where your attorney’s expertise comes into play. All the evidence that has been unearthed will be used here; they can also push the envelope knowing how well your case will do at trial. This way, the insurer will offer you a fair settlement.

• File a Lawsuit

In some cases, the insurer will refuse to offer you a fair settlement. If this happens, your lawyer will proceed to file a lawsuit. However, this only occurs rarely. Your lawyer will advise you about going to trial and if this is the best decision to take for your case.

Contact an Attorney Today!

If you or someone you know gets into an accident, you should immediately contact a personal injury lawyer. At Miami Lawyers 360, we will ensure that you get adequate compensation for your injuries. Our lawyers are on hand to speak to you and advise you on the best steps to take.