If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, you may deserve compensation. If you have never filed a personal injury lawsuit before, you probably have questions about the process. Here are some dos and don’ts to remember.
Don’t Wait to File a Claim
If you wait to file your claim, you could miss the deadline. Every state has its statute of limitations when it comes to personal injury cases. Some states allow you up to six years whereas others may only provide you with one year to make your claim. If you wait until the time limit is up, the case will be automatically dismissed. The only exception to this rule is if you do not discover your injuries or illness until later, you may be able to file your claim later.
File your claim as soon as possible. If you are unsure about the final costs of your medical treatment, you can still contact a personal injury lawyer to get the ball rolling. He or she can advise you on the next moves you should take to ensure that you do not miss any deadlines.
Do Collect Medical Evidence
Always collect medical evidence. This means that you need to have copies of your medical records. Your medical evidence should include the injuries that you sustained, the date of injury and how it occurred. Also, you need to include any treatments that you underwent and if you have a treatment plan, then you need to include those too. If you have recurring medical bills, then it is important to have your doctor explain the estimated cost of future treatment.
Don’t Refuse to Pay Your Medical Bills
Even if you plan to file a personal injury claim, you still have to pay your medical bills. If you cannot afford your bills, you must discuss your options with your healthcare provider. The last thing that you want to do is to refuse to pay your bills and wind up with a lawsuit against you by the medical provider or the collections agency. Instead, you may be able to discuss payment plan options with the hospital. Some hospitals will even put a lien on your settlement and await payment.
To file a personal injury claim can be complicated. To find out how to pursue your injury case, consult with a personal injury lawyer, as soon as possible.