If you have been injured by the fault of another, such as in a
car accident, there are important steps to follow to ensure that you are treated
fairly by big insurance and receive the compensation you deserve. 1. Document Your Injury!
The most important step you can take in order to obtain full
compensation is to fully and completely document your injury. If your injury is
not corroborated by someone else then not only will the insurance company act as
if it never happened, but you may not be able to adequately prove your case to a
jury if nesessary.
This documentation concerns two elements: [a] fault of the party
causing the event and [b] proof of the cause of your injury.
2. Have a Report Made Immediately
If your case involves a traffic accident it is imperative that
you call the police so a report can be made of the circumstances of the car
accident. Do not move your car until the police arrive. By verifying the
position of the vehicles the police officer can aid in documenting fault.
If your injury was caused by slipping on a foreign substance in
a store, you want to immediatley have a manager take your information and have
an ambulance called if your injurires are significant
3. Seek Competent Medical Attention
If you feel any pain or stiffness at all you should go to the
hospital emergency room as soon as possible {preferably have an ambulance take
you from the scene to the hospital}. This ensures early documentation of your
injury and the early intervention hopefully will aid the healing process.
If your injury persists you should, within the next several
days, follow up with your family doctor and seek early referral to a specialist
that treats your type of injury. An orthopedic specialist is ordinarily the most
competent doctor to treat your injury if it involves neck, back or extremity
injury. The doctor will also be able to write a report explaining the nature and
cause of your injury and testify in court if necessary.
4. Follow Your Doctor's Advice
You should follow your doctor's advice regarding the treatment
necessary for your injury. The insurance company will not take you seriously if
you do not follow doctor's orders. They will infer that you must not be very
injured if you do not do what is necessary to try to get better.
5. Hire An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
Insurance companies are in business to take in premiums and pay
out as little as possible on claims. You will be dealing with an experienced
adjustor whose job is to do just that. Therefore, if you want to get the best
result, you need someone on your side whose job is to get you full and fair
compensation and is experienced in doing so. You can obtain the services of a
lawyer on a contingency fee basis. This means that their fee depends on how much
they recover for you.
Following these five steps will help ensure that you obtain the
full and complete recovery you deserve.
Anthony Castelli is a Cincinnati, Ohio Accident and Personal
Injury Attorney. For more information go to http://www.castellilaw.com
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