Were you hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence? If so, you deserve financial compensation to pay your medical bills, cover lost wages, and support your family. You may be wondering:
How do I get an injury settlement from the insurance company?
The short answer is that you need to get medical care, build a case, and prepare for settlement negotiations. Here, our Spokane personal injury lawyer highlights five important steps you should take after an accident.
Seek Emergency Medical Attention and Ongoing Care
In Washington, personal injury compensation is based, in large part, on your actual damages. You will not be able to get a personal injury settlement without official medical records. The first step towards a personal injury settlement is getting yourself to a doctor. Make sure you follow your physician’s orders and seek ongoing/rehabilitative care as necessary.
Ensure that Your Accident is Documented and Reported
All accidents should be reported to the appropriate authorities. A serious car accident should be reported to state or local law enforcement. A slip and fall that results in a significant injury should be reported to the business or property owner. A paper trail is useful when you bring a claim. Further, injured victims should try to secure any evidence that indicates liability.
Carefully Document Your Damages
You can only pursue a personal injury settlement when you know how much your claim is worth. A personal injury attorney can help you value your claim. Along with other types of damages, you may be able to recover compensation for:
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- Emergency room care;
- Hospital and medical bills;
- Loss of current and future income;
- Pain and suffering; and
- Disfigurement/disability.
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Prepare a Demand Letter (A Lawyer Can Help)
The next step is usually to send a demand letter to the defendant/insurer. As noted by the Cornell Legal Information Institute, a demand letter is generally used to “begin legal negotiation between opposing parties.” It is a critically important step in the personal injury claims process. A Spokane, WA personal injury attorney can help you craft a professional, effective demand letter.
Get Ready for Settlement Negotiations
A settlement is an agreement between the parties to resolve a matter outside of court. In Washington, only a small percentage of personal injury cases go through a complete trial. Far more claims eventually reach settlement. How exactly settlement negotiations will proceed depends entirely on the specific case at hand. An experienced Spokane personal injury lawyer will make sure that you get a settlement that truly reflects the value of your case.
Call Our Spokane, Washington Personal Injury Attorney Today
At Albrecht Law PLLC, our Spokane personal injury lawyers are dedicated to getting successful results. If you have any questions about the steps you need to take to get personal injury compensation, we can help. Call us now or use our online contact form for a no cost, no obligation case evaluation. With an office in Spokane, our personal injury law firm represents people throughout Eastern Washington.
