If you were seriously injured in an accident and are contemplating pursuing a personal injury claim against the at-fault party or responsible insurance company, there are certain steps you should follow in order to enhance the probability of a successful outcome.
1) It is always important to document the injuries that were sustained in an accident. It is important to have your injuries evaluated promptly by a medical professional so that they are fully documented. If you do not document the injuries in a timely manner, the insurance company may argue that the injury was not causally related to the accident.
It is also important to photograph any bruising, marks, cuts and abrasions since they will heal quickly and you will be unable to document these types of injuries at a later date.
2) It is always important to make a police report and obtain any contact information from any potential witnesses. Frequently, police officers will leave out information related to witnesses and it may be difficult to track down these witnesses at a later date. If possible, you should obtain all witness information including their name, address and phone number. You should also document any scene evidence including vehicle damage, scene evidence such as skid marks, debris, road marking and the roadway itself. These may disappear quickly if not documented promptly.
3) You need to maintain all medical information including statements, bills and records of diagnosis and treatments related to your medical care. Make sure to let your treating physician know about all of your accident related injuries. Having this information fully noted in the records will increase your probability of a successful outcome.
4) If you are contacted by the insurance company or a representative from the insurance company, do not provide a recorded statement to the insurance company. Frequently, insurance companies will take a statement and attempt to get you to say some things that are incorrect or get you to accept low ball offers in exchange for permanently closing your case. Oftentimes, it is difficult to know the full extent of injuries early on after an accident and it is important to make sure you know the full extent of the consequences of your injury before discussing this with the insurance company.
5) You should retain an experienced personal injury attorney who practices solely in this legal field. Frequently, there are general practice attorneys who will handle personal injury lawsuits who do not have the specialized knowledge necessary to adequately represent you in a personal injury lawsuit. Whether your injuries are mild, moderate or very severe, taking these steps can greatly increase the likelihood that you will have a successful outcome when pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
It is very important to have a qualified and experienced personal injury attorney on your side to relieve some of the stress and give you the best probability of succeeding in your case.
Please contact our Ann Arbor Personal Injury Law Firm for a Free Consultation to explain your rights in detail after a car accident causing personal injury in Michigan. We will handle your case in a professional manner, keep you informed of what is happening with your case, and work to make sure that you and your family obtain a fair resolution.