Handling a serious injury case on your own can be as dangerous as performing surgery on yourself without a doctor…It’s a bad idea!
I recently settled a case for a really great client. At the time, he was a young college student with a bright future ahead. He was traveling down the road on a bicycle, as many students do, and a person failed to yield to him. They slammed into him causing extensive injuries. Thankfully, he was wearing a helmet. The impact was so great that it propelled him on to the hood of the vehicle and caused him to shatter the windshield with his head before he rolled off onto the pavement. The insurance company came in with a stingy offer that wouldn’t even compensate for the time off of work and school to recover. We ended up settling for 40% more than their first offer. It took a while, but our client was thrilled.
The truth is that the clients who get the best results are those who are proactive about handling any injuries and/or conditions they deal with. Of course, you don’t want to live your life preparing for an accident, so how can we set you up for a successful outcome now, even if we hope it never happens? It can be done in three easy steps that I will share with you.
If you’re injured in an accident:
1. See Your Doctor
Don’t wait to get medical treatment. Follow through with all medical care suggested by your doctor. Getting better is the number one priority.
2. Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal throughout your recovery process is a good idea. Keeping a record of all of your injuries is crucial to keeping your attorney updated. Include the date, the aches and pains you experience, how the injuries are affecting your daily activities, the doctors you see, etc. The more detailed, the better.
3. Talk to a Lawyer
I get it. Hiring a lawyer has a certain negative stigma with it–especially in a small town. But when your injuries are substantial and it’s not your fault, you simply don’t need to or can’t afford to pay for the damages associated with the accident. Unfortunately, when something bad happens, there are repercussions. This is where the importance of insurance comes into play.
When you hire a lawyer, you’re not necessarily going after the individual, you’re actually going after the individual’s insurance. By law, you have to start with suing the person to get to their insurance.
Want to meet with us to discuss your case and how this process could help you reach a successful resolution? Call us at 501-354-4577 to arrange a free consultation.