Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you file a personal injury claim, there many things to consider. If you understand some of the key concepts involved, it will make the process go much smoother.
What Caused the Injury and Who Is Responsible?
The way you handle the injury response depends on the root cause. Let’s look at some of the key causes of injuries and the typical insurance coverage available.
- Home Accidents – If you fall and injure yourself at home, your homeowner’s insurance policy typically won’t cover the accident. You must file a claim with your health insurance company. If someone else is injured on your property, however, most homeowners’ policies will protect you against liability claims. If you are injured at someone else’s home, their policy should cover your accident as well.
- Automobile Accidents – If someone else caused the accident in which you are injured, you are covered under their auto insurance policy. Similarly, your car insurance will cover another person’s injury expenses if you are at fault.
- Medical Mistakes – Personal injuries can be sustained due to medical mistakes made during surgeries and other treatments. In these instances, you should seek legal advice on the best course of action.
- Negligence – If you slip and injure yourself in a public place due to the failure of the owner to address areas of potential harm, you should discuss your personal injury options with your lawyer.
How Soon Should You File a Personal Injury Claim?
It is always advantageous to file an injury claim as soon as possible. If the accident is covered under your insurance policy or the policy of the person at fault, talk with your insurance agent about the steps involved in seeking compensation. Make sure if you are in a car accident that you obtain the insurance information from the person responsible.
If the injury is the result of negligence or other mistakes not covered under homeowners or auto insurance, you should file a personal injury lawsuit. A lawyer can help you get started with the process. The lawsuit should be filed quickly because waiting to do so could indicate to the claims adjuster that your injuries weren’t severe enough to be taken seriously.
Each state has its own statute of limitations for filing deadlines, but most fall within 2 to 5 years from the date of the injury. Make sure you become familiar with your state’s filing procedures and deadlines or reach out to a personal injury lawyer from a law firm like The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt to assist with better understanding your personal injury claim along with filing procedures and other important deadlines.
If you do your due diligence before proceeding with a personal injury claim, you will be much happier with the outcome.