If you’ve been injured, you have a lot on your mind. You have to focus on recovering, paying bills, returning to work, and adapting to any changes that the injury may have created in your life. The last thing that anyone with an injury wants to worry about is the legal hoops of seeking compensation for their injuries. Yet, this is exactly when many injured people make mistakes in an effort to get through the process and put the experience behind them. To protect your own rights, it is essential to avoid signing anything before speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
While you may wish to move on with your life, failing to take the necessary steps now could certainly cost you later. You may find yourself faced with expenses that you shouldn’t have to cover or coping with lost wages from work that you shouldn’t have had to miss. If you think you have a personal injury claim, then you need to take the right steps and work closely with a personal injury attorney in Kansas City. Consider the following points.
Establish and Locate the Other Individuals Associated with Your Injury.
If there are other individuals who are associated with or potentially responsible for your injuries, you need to establish who they are and where to find them. This can be challenging, especially if there are emotions involved. For example, you may be angry with the person who caused your injuries, or the person may deny that they caused the injuries and may be defensive. The most important thing that you can do during this stage is to remain calm and focused on the task at hand. That task is to obtain all of the names, phone numbers, addresses, and insurance information of anyone involved. Avoid making accusations that may lead to conflict, but also avoid making any statements that might suggest that you are to blame.
Seek a Free Consultation with a Personal Injury Attorney
Avoid making any agreements or statements without first talking to a personal injury attorney. A lawyer will have a far better understanding of the law and of the nuances of your situation than yourself, your family, your friends, or anyone else that you may seek advice from. While the advice of loved ones can be valuable, be sure to discuss everything with a lawyer before you make any final decisions or take any actions.
Watch What You Say
It is essential to watch what you say following a personal injury. This is especially true when it comes to communicating with insurance companies. The insurance company does not need anything more than your name, your home address, and your phone number. It is not necessary to discuss the details of the incident, injury, work, life, etc. You can politely decline to discuss the details of your case until you have spoken with an attorney. Remember that the insurance company is not on the side of getting a fair settlement for you. Rather, they want to get you to settle early and for as little as possible, and they can use your words against you.
Later, you will be giving them a detailed demand for compensation that includes descriptions of your injuries and a value that you will be requesting as compensation. Your attorney will review this with you to ascertain the full extent of your injuries and the appropriate compensation for those injuries, treatments, and financial losses.
Take Diligent Notes
While you shouldn’t make any agreements or sign anything, you should take notes when discussing your claim with an insurance company. You should write down the time, the date, and a summary of what took place in each conversation. In this way, you will be able to remember what was said to you and what you said. The insurance company may send you some paperwork, as well. Do not sign anything. You do not want to make the mistake of giving the insurance company more information than they need. Rather, contact a skilled personal injury attorney in Kansas City like the Krause & Kinsman Law Firm for a free consultation before you take action. They can be reached at 844-452-3688 or by using their convenient online contact form.
