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Millions of people experience some type of significant injury every year. Almost 23 million of these cases are nonfatal but warrant emergency medical services.
Injuries can happen in different environments and from myriad causes. Unfortunately, many injuries are the result of negligence by an individual or entity.
Our court system determines the outcome of your personal injury case. For this reason, there are many missteps that can derail your claim. Conversely, there are some things you can do to make sure that justice is served.
This article highlights some strategies for ensuring that happens. It will help you get the compensation you deserve from your personal injury settlement.
Personal injury cases are legal disputes that arise when a person suffers an injury for which someone may be responsible. The defendant can be an individual, company, organization, or other entity.
This can entail bodily harm, including physical or psychological damage. It also can involve other harm, like loss of earning potential.
Proving harm in a personal injury case comprises several steps. These include showing that the harm one suffered stemmed directly from the wrongdoing of the defendant.
It also entails showing that the defendant owed a duty to the claimant that was breached. This means proving intent either of willful wrongdoing or neglect that led to the harm.
Personal injury lawsuits are often settled out of court. This means that both parties reach an agreement, including the amount of “damages” to be paid to the claimant. Sometimes though, cases go to court, where a judge and jury help decide the outcome.
The first step to a successful case is accurately valuing your claim. This can be quite complex. Medical or rehabilitation bills may be easy to tally, but things like “pain and suffering” or loss of earning potential can be more complicated.
You want to ensure that all the harm you suffered (or will experience in the future) is included in the “damages.” You might want to hire a personal injury lawyer who can help make sure everything is covered.
As mentioned above, a personal injury case involves proving that the harm resulted from certain actions. This entails compiling evidence, including witness testimony.
To maximize your chances of success, you will need to investigate and attain as much evidence to support your claim as possible. Seeking competent legal help for this can go a long way.
We also mentioned that most cases settle out of court. This can be advantageous for both parties, who do not want to spend time and money litigating the case.
The goal is to determine if this is the best option for you. Accepting a settlement that is too low could mean you are not able to pay medical bills or be compensated for your loss of wages, salary, mental anguish, or being able to do certain activities with your friends or loved ones.
The key here is having the knowledge and experience necessary to understand the pros and cons of each option. You want an attorney that knows a good settlement amount but is also willing to “go the distance,” if necessary.
Now that you understand the best ways to maximize compensation for your personal injury case, you can proceed accordingly. Taking these steps will ensure that you receive the “damages” you deserve for the harm you experienced.
At Calhoun Meredith, we understand the challenges of trying to navigate the complex legal system. We will leverage our many years of education and experience to get you fair compensation for your personal injury claim. Contact us today to discuss your case.