If you’ve been injured there are several important steps you can take to help maximize your recovery, and – in the event that the injury was due to the negligence of another party – the compensation that is owed to you:
Step #1 – Go to the hospital. Even if you don’t feel badly injured now, you may have internal injuries, and you may start feeling them in the future. Go to a doctor ASAP and get checked out. Medical expenses are almost always recoverable. Having a doctor’s report on file will help your prove case and demonstrate that you took the injury as seriously as the courts ought to.
Step #2 – Do not talk to the insruance adjusters. When adjusters want to speak with you they are trying to determine how little they can pay you, not how much. They will not take into account lost wages, future pain and anguish, or many other factors that are likely to impact you. A good injury attorney is someone who has decades of experience dealing with insurance companies, and is in a much better position to negotiate on your behalf.
Step #3 – Schedule a free case evaluation. A qualified personal injury lawyer will be able to review the facts surrouding your injury and advise as to whether or not you have a case. Most law firms – including ours – provide this service for free.
Step #4 – Hire an experienced attorney. Hiring an attorney can feel like a daunting task. You’ll want to find someone who you are comfortable with, and who has a track record of succesfully settling and trying cases simialr to your own. They will be able to subpoena information surrouding the accident and help preserve important evidence that can make or break your claims. When it comes to personal injury, the sooner you hire an attorney, the better.
Steven C. Lee is a personal injury lawyer in Austin, Texas specializing in truck accidents, car accidents, bicycle accidents, drunk driving accidents, motorcycle accidents, construction site accidents and wrongful death cases.
Steven C. Lee is a member of the Texas Bar, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, Texas Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the BBB in Austin, TX. You can view Steven C. Lee’s LinkedIn Profile here.
