Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit? Tips on How to Prepare Your Claim
Lawsuits are the central subject of many movies and television shows. The main character gets into an accident with another motorist, a child hurts themselves by falling into a neighbor's pool or any number of other scenarios are used to showcase the legal process of receiving compensation for an injury. However, in real life, filing a lawsuit isn't always so simple.
There are a number of steps that have to be walked out in order for an individual to win their case. If you're thinking about filing a personal injury lawsuit, here are a few tips that can help you prepare your claim.
Your Testimony Must Be Consistent
The statement that you give concerning what happened during the incident needs to be consistent each and every time. No matter how often you are asked to give a statement of the details of the case, your testimony must be the same.
When you're giving the statement it's normal to think that you can rely on your memory. The incident likely sticks out in your mind because it was so shocking and seemed to come out of the blue. You have no doubt that what you're saying to the police officer or the judge is exactly what you will tell the insurance company.
The problem is that you may start to forget the exact details of the situation. Each time you tell it, you might mistakenly throw something in or leave out a very important piece. This casts a shadow of doubt on your testimony that could work against you.
Writing down a statement and reading it word-for-word every time is the best way for you to buffer yourself against any possible inconsistencies. Try to put pen to paper as soon after the incident as you possibly can.
Hiring an Attorney Is the Wise Course of Action
When you're filing a lawsuit it's always good to work with an attorney such as Nicholas B. Hall - Personal Injury Lawyer. Trying to navigate the process without the assistance of an experienced legal professional can be compared to trying to perform surgery on yourself. You need help and the lawyer is there to make the whole process clear and easy for you.
Whether you win your claim or not is likely going to boil down to the level of preparation that you're willing to put in. Take your case seriously so you can reap the fruits of your labor when the courts declare you the winner.