If you were injured due to the negligence of another party, you can hold them accountable for your damages. However, this does not mean that you need to rush to find the nearest courtroom to file a lawsuit. Most personal injury cases are resolved outside of litigation. Further, there are some important steps you need to take immediately following an accident, before you can take legal action. Here, our personal injury attorneys highlight four things you should do before filing an accident lawsuit.
Nothing should come before your health and safety. After an accident, you need to get a professional medical evaluation without delay. Not only should you get checked out for your own well-being, but it is a required part of the legal claims process. The bottom line is that you cannot bring a successful personal injury claim or personal injury lawsuit unless you have medical records that establish the extent and severity of your injuries.
Your accident should be reported to the appropriate parties. Who the accident needs to be reported to will depend on the specific circumstances of the case. As an example, a car accident should be reported to the state or local police department. In contrast, a slip and fall accident should be reported to the property owner. It is also important that all implicated insurance policies are notified. If you have any questions about how to report an injury or who to notify, our skilled attorneys can help.
Every accident requires a thorough, detailed-focused investigation. Only with a proper investigation can you be sure that you will have access to all of the evidence that you need to bring a winning claim. Too many people struggle to get the full financial compensation that they deserve because key evidence was lost in the early stages of the claims process. You can only bring an effective legal complaint (a lawsuit) after an initial investigation.
Few personal injury cases receive a verdict. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) estimates that 95+ percent of accident claims are resolved outside of court. In many cases, settlement negotiations will begin before a lawsuit is filed. To be clear, you still need to prepare for trial. Only when defendants and their insurance providers are aware they can be held liable will they take settlement negotiations seriously. Nonetheless, your personal injury case may still be settled before any court date.
At Richmond Vona, LLC, our personal injury attorneys are aggressive, effective advocates for our clients. We will help you get justice and full financial relief. For a free assessment of your personal injury case, please contact our legal team right away. We represent clients throughout Western New York, including in Erie County, Monroe County, and Niagara County.
