Deann Miles
When you are in a car accident, you may want to hurry up and file a personal injury claim. After all, you have medical bills to pay and you want to get your car accident case over with. However, filing a personal injury claim shortly after an accident can backfire for several reasons.
You'll Need More Checkups
You may need further tests and more time to determine the extent to where you are injured after your car accident. Some injuries do not show up until days or even weeks after the accident. You will also need to see how well you are responding to treatments.
You'll also want to focus on your medical care because your primary focus should be on getting better for your own sake. Also, if you do not take the steps necessary to treat your medical conditions, the other party might argue that your injuries were exacerbated by your refusal to take appropriate actions.
You'll Need Help from a Lawyer
You'll want to consult with a car accident lawyer to learn about your legal options. You'll also want to give your car accident lawyer time to research your case and determine your best course of action. For example, your lawyer may need to locate and interview witnesses.
You May Be Able to Settle
Rather than filing a lawsuit, it's better to wait and see if your car accident attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement. This is a much less expensive option, and you do not have to worry about the courts choosing to rule against you. With a settlement, the worst that can happen is that the other party refuses to settle or settles for less than you believe that your settlement is worth. With a lawsuit, if you lose your case, the best you can do at that point is to file an appeal.
You will want to wait until your medical condition has stabilized before you pursue a settlement. Once you have reached the state of maximum medical improvement, your attorney will have an easier time arguing that you are entitled to a higher settlement.
However, the more money you will be asking for from the insurance provider, the harder that the insurance provider will fight to try to downplay your injuries or place blame on you for the accident. Therefore, you'll need an experienced attorney who can craft an argument for why the other party was negligent.
If you are unable to work because of an illness or injury, you may qualify for social security disability payments. This money comes from a fund you have probably contributed to during your time in the work force, and it is likely that you have the right to disability payments using this money. As an attorney specializing in social security disability, I have a great deal of experience in helping clients determine if they qualify for disability payments. I hope that this blog will help people who have been injured understand what it means to qualify for social security disability benefits and how to go about getting that help.