If you have been injured after being involved in an accident because of another party’s negligence, you want to have an experienced Salem Oregon personal injury lawyer on your side to assess your claim. The best lawyer to work with will consider all the details of your case to determine your eligibility for compensation. Also, your lawyer can discuss how you can protect your claim’s value. To maximize your claim, here are steps you can take:
Preserve Evidence
After you sustained an injury, you must establish your claim to get compensation for it. Evidence in your type of case can be eliminated just minutes after your accident. Thus, you must preserve every piece of evidence available while it is still accessible. Here’s how you can do it:
- Report the accident. If you were involved in a car accident, call the local authorities to report it. If you were in a slip and fall accident, contact the property owner to inform them about the accident.
- Take photos. Photos of the accident scene, defects, injuries, and warning signs can be important evidence to prove that an accident actually occurred.
- Identify witnesses. If some people were there when the accident happened, try to talk to them to get their contact information. Your attorney can get back to them for testimony.
- Identify video surveillance. Some businesses and properties may have video surveillance that captured your accident. The surveillance can help support your claim.
Seek Medical Treatment Right Away
After your accident, you must get yourself checked by a doctor, even if you don’t feel any pain. Delaying this can negatively affect your claim. Once you see a doctor, tell them about the discomfort or pain you are experiencing. Your doctor will record this information in your medical records to establish the full extent of your injuries.
Follow Your Treatment Plan
Following the treatment plan your doctor recommends is imperative in maintaining the strength of your claim and ensuring your safety. If you don’t follow, the insurance company may argue that your injuries resulted in your own actions and that you should not be eligible for compensation. Also, not following your treatment plan can jeopardize your health and recovery.
Avoid Exaggerating Your Injuries
You need to be honest about the extent of your injuries if you want to make the most out of your claim. Also, don’t lie about the activities you can’t perform. Usually, insurance companies hire private investigators that may be following you around without your knowledge. When these investigators discover that you lied about your injuries, the insurance company will deny your claim outright.
