Your Role as the Personal Injury Claimant

When you are injured in an accident because of another party’s negligence, you might consider seeking compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. This process can be complicated and confusing, so most people work with personal injury lawyers to file their claims and negotiate with the other parties involved, such as the insurance provider and their doctor. But although the lawyer handles the “heavy lifting” of a personal injury claim, like the negotiation process and determining which evidence to use and how, the claimant also needs to work to pursue his or her claim. If the claimant is not engaged in the process, he or she can potentially hurt the claim’s chance for reaching a fair settlement.

Your lawyer will guide you through the personal injury claim process, which has unique requirements for the claimant. These requirements include the following:

Do All that you Can to Help yourself Recover

As the claimant, you are required to mitigate your damages. This means that it is your duty to seek the medical care you need for your injury and do all that you reasonably can to ensure your successful recovery. This means that you should not wait to seek treatment after your accident – get yourself to the doctor as soon as you can and follow all of his or her instructions, which can include a medication or physical therapy regimen and limits to the activities you can do, such as lifting items above a certain weight and driving.

Provide Relevant Evidence

The evidence you provide to your attorney is what he or she uses to support your claim. Provide as much evidence of your injury and the other party’s negligence as you can, but also remember to provide quality evidence. For example, a photograph of the accident is better than a friend’s testimony, and a record that you received medical treatment is better than simply stating that you went to the doctor.

Follow your Attorney’s Lead

Your attorney has handled many personal injury cases in the past. He or she knows how to negotiate with insurance providers, doctors, and if necessary, the court. Do not speak with an insurance provider until you have first discussed your case with an attorney – usually, insurance providers ask claimants to make official statements about their claims, which they can use later to justify a lower settlement amount than the claimant might otherwise been able to recover.

Work with an Experienced Vernon Hills Personal Injury Lawyer

When you have a personal injury claim pending, there is a lot you need to do as the claimant to ensure that you receive a fair settlement for your damages. But you are not the only one involved in the process. Work with an experienced Vernon Hills personal injury lawyer to ensure ensure that all of your paperwork is filed on time, that you have the necessary evidence to prove your claim, and that you do not inadvertently invalidate your claim by saying or doing the wrong thing. For further guidance with your claim, contact The Law Offices of Robert T. Edens, P.C. to set up your initial case evaluation with us.