Accidents can happen anytime. You’re walking down the street and suddenly a car lost its control and run you over. Unfortunately, things as freaky as that one example happen all the time. Whether your injuries were caused by a car accident, a defective product, or a simple slip and fall, you can file a personal injury claim as long as you know just where to look and what to look for.
The first thing you need if you’re in Kent is a personal injury attorney. This attorney will be responsible for answering all your questions that pertain to the filing of a lawsuit—whether you want to file a lawsuit or simply negotiate with the other party. Remember that no two injuries are ever the same, but the process it takes to determine whether to file a lawsuit is almost distinctively similar.
Determine the Severity of the Injury
How severe was the injury? Did it stop you from performing your work? Could you still function even with the injury? If you are going to file a lawsuit, it will take time and money. However, if the injury is minor and your health insurance policy covers it, you may want to just claim it under your insurance and just forego the idea of filing a lawsuit.
Check If the Insurance Policy Will Cover Your Injuries
If you have been injured and you think someone else is responsible for it, one of the very first things that you need to do is check if that person has an insurance policy that covers third-party personal injuries. It is one thing to win a lawsuit; it’s another case completely to implement that claim. If the defendant has no money and assets, you may want to think twice about filing that lawsuit.
Check the Statute of Limitations and the Discovery Rule
When did the accident and injury happen? The doctor or medical practitioner must find the injury connected to the accident within a reasonable time after the accident. A second diagnosis such as a brain injury (which can be detected a year after the accident) will not fall within the statute of limitations because the discovery rule extends the original date from the day of the accident itself to the day when the new injuries are discovered. Even in cases of deaths, the discovery rule applies since a forensic pathologist can examine the body in the hopes of discovering that the cause of death was related to the accident.
Decide the Kind of Attorney You Need
Do you need a general attorney who has knowledge of a little bit of everything, or should you be looking for a personal injury attorney? Even if your injuries are considered minor and you think that you can deal with it yourself, an attorney will help you discover the loopholes in your case and make them indestructible.
Personal injury claims take a lot of time and effort. You need to make sure that filing a lawsuit for the claims is worth your time. The one person who can guide you through the whole process is a personal injury attorney.