Navigating the responsibilities and pressures of a personal injury claim can be overwhelming, but there are ways claimants can lessen some of the stress. A personal injury claimant is best prepared for a case if he or she follows a few steps to protect his or her personal health and adhere to legal obligations.
Seeking Medical Attention Immediately
Right after the accident occurs, a person who thinks he or she might be injured from the accident should go straight to a hospital. Even if the damage was mild, or nearly non-existent, seeking medical attention will allow the person to document his or her injuries, which could be helpful in a case.
Furthermore, going to a hospital shows that the injured person has taken the accident seriously. Demonstrating that he or she cares about the situation will be a point in his or her favor should a judge and a jury be faced.
Preserving Evidence
Similar to how going to a doctor will help document the injuries, keeping tabs on the physical artifacts of the accident is indispensable in building a personal injury case. If it were a traffic crash, for instance, the claimant would want to take detailed photos of the damage before getting it fixed.
Personal injury cases go along more smoothly if the claimant can give his or her lawyer the materials needed to build an argument. Keeping care of documentation related to the case and communicating with a lawyer regarding all evidence (photos, statements, medical records) at the onset of the discovery phase can help a claim be successful.
Staying Off Social Media
If a person’s testimony says he or she leads one life, and his or her social media references another, he or she may face difficulty in the courtroom. Throughout their personal injury case, most people would be better off if they avoided social media altogether. This is because a claimant can be cross-examined about his or her posts when they contradict the intensity of his or her injuries.
Understanding the Value of the Damages
Most cases will see a settlement offer before they go to court. If the opposing party offers the claimant a settlement, the claimant should consider it based on what he or she knows to be the actual worth or his or her damages.
When navigating a claim it is important that the claimant and his or her attorney understand the worth of the damages. Not only would it help formulate the argument, but it will also give him or her a goal post by which to judge the value of a settlement offer.
Enjoying a Little Self Care
Personal injury cases are long, stressful ordeals. Claimants who get themselves overly invested run the risk of burning out and settling for something far below their value.
Claimants should take time to relax throughout the legal process. Any way that a person finds solace and comfort, whether that be in reading a book, going for walks, watching television, spending time with friends, can help reduce stress during a claim.