We all rely on our jobs for our livelihood, and without them, we can find ourselves in a financial nightmare. As such, one of the worst-case scenarios for being injured is finding yourself unable to work to support yourself.
Fortunately, many programs exist that protect workers when they’re injured on the job. But when you’re not injured at work, you might believe that you have nowhere to turn to for support or compensation.
When you suffer a personal injury, you really need to know your rights and what you’re entitled to because you may be able to seek compensation by filing legal action. And a good personal injury attorney can help you through the muddy waters of these complex legal proceedings.
If you’ve suffered a personal injury, in this post, we’ll outline a few things that you might not be aware of when it comes to seeking compensation.
What Exactly is a Personal Injury Claim?
A personal injury claim is essentially a legal dispute that arises when a person is injured in an accident when one or more individuals or entities may be deemed at fault or negligent in some way.
Basically, if you’re injured during a medical procedure, a police chase collision, a multi-car pileup, or any accident where fault or negligence can be placed on another person, you have a right to pursue a personal injury claim.
For example, if you’re injured in a police chase in Kansas City, your appropriate course of action (after seeking medical attention, in the event of neck injuries or other serious injuries) is to seek counsel with a personal injury attorney in Kansas City.
The attorney you contact will be able to walk you through what your options are, how to file, and you’ll discuss the settlement amount you’re looking for towards compensation. Selecting the right personal injury attorney is crucial as they will be your advocate in the legal proceedings and should have experience and knowledge in handling similar cases. Be sure to research and compare different attorneys before making a decision.
What Types of Compensation Can You Seek?
The kind of compensation that you’ll be able to file a claim for will greatly depend on the manner in which you were injured, who is at fault, and what damages that you can prove you suffered from the injury.
Keep in mind that you cannot simply sue a person or entity without verifiable proof of the injury or the damages caused. As such, when an injury occurs, the first thing to do is to seek medical attention then file a police report to have documentation of the injury.
A personal injury attorney will then seek the best legal path forward for you to file a claim and seek compensation. Typical causes for financial compensation in a personal injury case are as follows:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repair
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
Though there are many other types of claims you can file. Your injuries and the nature of your accident will ultimately dictate which legal pathways you can pursue.
Document Everything
In a personal injury case, documentation is everything. Basically, unless you have sound, irrefutable evidence that you were injured, you won’t be able to file a claim.
Additionally, you’ll also need to prove that you suffered financial damages as well. This often comes in the form of being unable to work for an extended period of time, or having medical bills that you simply cannot pay.
If you’re hospitalized for a significant amount of time, chances are you’ll not only have mounting medical bills, you’ll likely have also been out of work and unable to pay your personal bills as well. And this is where having documentation for the expenses that you’ve incurred becomes a vital part of the personal injury claim process.
Your life isn’t over in the event of a personal injury. Though this may be a significant setback in your life, there are many paths forward as long as you follow the proper protocols and seek legal action expediently without waiting too long to file a claim.
Once you get the process rolling, seeing compensation might take some time. But you’ll ultimately be able to get back on your feet, back to work and back to life with the help of a personal injury lawyer.
