Six Steps for a Successful Personal Injury Lawsuit

When you’ve been injured because of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, a personal injury lawsuit may be in your future. Here are six steps you can take to improve your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve.

1. Seek Timely and Appropriate Medical Care. Make health your top priority. Going to the hospital or visiting your  doctor after an accident ensures you stay as healthy as possible. It also creates a record of your injuries, which can be crucial to proving damages in a personal injury lawsuit later.
2. Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer. Once you’ve received the medical attention you need, contact an attorney with experience in personal injury law. Why? Because in Kentucky, there are statutes of limitation on how long you have  to file a personal injury lawsuit. The sooner a lawyer becomes involved, the better your chances of recovering compensation and the less risk of your missing important deadlines. A personal injury lawyer can guide you through the task of collecting evidence, dealing with insurance companies, and avoiding mistakes that could weaken your case.
3. Record Your Recollections…With Your Lawyer’s Help. Your memory of an injury or accident is usually clearest soon after the events. It can help to write down your recollections right away. But, only do so with your lawyer’s help. Sometimes, accident victims write or say things that unintentionally weaken their case. Your lawyer can help you avoid similar unforced errors.
4. Preserve Evidence. Virtually any incident that leaves you injured could lead to a personal injury lawsuit. The evidence of that incident can vary widely, and it can be crucial to collect it. Imagine yourself as a character from a crime investigation show: be thorough and take steps to preserve information that could change over time if you don’t keep a fixed record. Did you slip and fall at a restaurant? Keep your receipts, get the server’s name and phone number, and, if possible, snap some photos with your smartphone of the spot where you fell. Were you in a car accident? Summon the police to the scene, take pictures of the property damages and any visible injuries, and get contact information for witnesses and other drivers.
5. Stay Off Social Media. Most of us document our “best lives” on social media. We smile in pictures, publish our happy moments, make things look great. When you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, it’s not a happy situation. Don’t weaken your case by showing the silver-lining side of an injury. If you choose to post on social media, don’t sugar-coat how you’re feeling. Better yet, just disappear from social media until your lawyer gives you the all-clear to return.
6. Do Not Take Money. Do Not Sign Anything. Insurance companies and other people’s lawyers have a strong incentive to do damage control. They may try to get you to agree to lowball settlements or to sign statements waiving someone’s liability to you. Don’t fall for these tactics. Tempting as it may be to accept a quick payment, remember that these people don’t have your best interests at heart. If they’re offering instant money, that’s often because they believe they have much bigger exposure. Speak with an experienced injury lawyer before you sign anything.

At Saladino & Schaaf, we have years of experience representing Kentuckians in personal injury lawsuits. If you’ve been injured through no fault of your own, contact us online or at (270) 444-0406 to schedule a free consultation today. You may be entitled to significant compensation, but the clock is ticking.