If you’ve suffered a personal injury, you can make a legal claim against the party or individual at fault. Even if you are partially responsible for your own injuries, you may still be awarded compensation. In order to do so you must prepare a solid claim, including substantial evidence proving the majority of liability or fault lies with the other party.
Requirements for Filing a Personal Injury Claim
There are many types of personal injury claims, including everything from car accidents and slip and fall claims to injuries resulting from improper medical treatment provided by a doctor. The type of injuries and the circumstances under which they occur affect the evidence necessary for successfully filing a lawsuit. Following are some of the evidence categories required:
- Formal statements describing the incident, accident, or other circumstances that lead to your injuries
- Policy reports, if applicable, of the incident, including statements from witnesses
- Eye-witness statements collected by you or your attorney
- Photos of the accident scene or site at which your injuries occurred
- Photos of the physical trauma you suffered or the damage to personal property
- Medical records, documenting treatments needed as a result of your injuries
- Insurance documentation related to any claims filed with your own or the insurance providers of the defendant
There are nearly as many types of personal injury claims as there are forms of injuries and no two claims are exactly alike. Evidence necessary in each claim may vary, but you need to build a thorough case file and should do so as soon as possible after your injuries.
The Claimant’s Role in a Personal Injury Claim
If you are the injured party in a personal injury claim, then you are the claimant, or the person who files a claim or lawsuit for damages. It’s your job to prove your claim in order to receive any form of compensation. You must build a strong body of evidence, documenting that the defendant is responsible, or holds primary responsibility for your injuries.
As the claimant, you must also decide:
- whether to file a lawsuit,
- settle out of court,
OR
- to even pursue your personal injury claim at all.
The first step in the process is to notify the defendant of your claim. The defendant’s insurance company may offer a settlement. You must then decide whether to:
- accept the settlement
OR
- file a formal lawsuit and argue your claim in court.
The Defendant’s Role in a Personal Injury Claim
The defendant in a personal injury claim is the person or entity against whom the claim is filed and they must decide:
- whether to fight a claim
OR
-
- make a settlement offer.
They must additionally decide whether to argue their case in court, if you, the claimant, decide not to accept the settlement offer.
If the defendant decides to fight the claim, they will most likely:
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-
- hire their own legal counsel
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AND
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- build a case in defense of their own interests.
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In other words, they will try to counter all of your evidence with evidence and arguments of their own in an attempt to prove:
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- they were not at fault for your injuries
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OR
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- that you’re mainly at fault for your own injuries and therefore not entitled to compensation for any injuries or damages you suffered.
Speak to an Experienced Family Law Attorney Today
Need help? Then you should contact the Law Offices of Keith Anthony at (860) 333-6455. Attorney Keith Anthony can help you navigate thru this process, step by step and is open to assist you.