You should not have to suffer and rack up enormous medical bills because of one bad accident. Whoever caused the accident should be held responsible and made to cover your damages. Getting compensation can be challenging, but you might get what you need by filing a personal injury case.
After an injury, you should get medical attention as soon as possible. Carefully track your medical costs and inform your attorney of future medical needs so you can claim those costs as damages. Various factors may influence the value of your claims, including your injuries, economic costs, and distress or suffering. To prepare your case, we may need to review things like police reports, if there was an investigation, medical records, and we should interview witnesses. Contact an attorney soon, as your time to file a claim might be running out.
For a private, free case analysis, call (631) 910-7493 and talk to our personal injury attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm.
Medical Care You May Need After Being Injured
Accidents may inflict various injuries ranging from mild bumps and bruises to catastrophic injuries. The medical care you need will likely vary based on your condition, but everyone involved in the accident should get to a hospital right away.
Your first step should be getting any immediate care you need. Go to the emergency room and get evaluated right after the accident. If your injuries are serious, you might need an ambulance. Otherwise, someone should drive you to the hospital.
Next, you should think about the possibility of long-term care or future medical needs. Severe injuries often require more complex and extensive treatments that might last beyond your legal claims. In such cases, you may claim the cost of future medical care.
Factors That Determine the Value of Your Personal Injury Claims
One of the biggest factors in a personal injury case is damages. These are often the main reasons why the case is filed, and their value may be based on multiple factors.
The severity of your injuries may have a large impact on how our personal injury attorneys evaluate your damages. Generally, the more serious and painful your injuries are, the higher your damages should be. When injuries come with long-term complications or pain, they often warrant very substantial compensation. Emotional or psychological distress is also an important factor.
Your injuries might not just be painful but expensive. The economic costs of medical care, repairing or replacing damaged property, and losing income from being too injured to work may take a heavy toll on your life. Keep accurate records of your financial losses and costs, as they should be factored into your damages.
Records You Should Keep Following an Accident
Gathering evidence often begins with certain records pertaining to your accident. Often, these records are not just helpful to your case, but a necessary element in your case.
It is a good idea to contact the police so they can investigate, even if the accident might not seem that severe. The authorities may uncover important evidence we can use in your case, and they should include various important details in an official report. Generally, police reports are inadmissible as evidence, but they may lead us to admissible evidence.
In addition to the police, emergency responders may be sent to the accident scene to render aid. Even if they are not, you should get to a hospital after the accident as soon as possible. Your medical records may help us prove how badly you were hurt and the extent of your medical costs.
The Best Time to File a Personal Injury Case in Quogue
The best time to file your case is hard to say, as the circumstances surrounding your case might influence how long it takes to prepare and the optimal time to file.
When preparing your claims, we must be mindful of the statute of limitations. This law, under C.V.P. Law § 214, limits how much time you have to file your case. For personal injuries, plaintiffs have only 3 years from the date of the accident to file their cases in court.
Waiting too long to start your case might have negative implications beyond the statute of limitations. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that evidence will disappear, witnesses will move away, and your case may become weaker.
Ultimately, it is usually wise to speak to a lawyer about your case as soon as possible.
How to Start a Personal Injury Case
Beginning a personal injury lawsuit is far from easy, but your attorney can help you through it. Your first step is to meet with a lawyer and discuss the accident, your injuries, and your legal options. A lawsuit is possible, but you might have other legal avenues to explore before making a decision.
If you decide to file a lawsuit, you must prepare a formal legal complaint. The complaint is not a simple document and requires lengthy, extensive details about the case. We must identify the defendant, explain where and how the accident happened, claim your damages, and present evidence.
The complaint is incredibly important as it may set the tone for the rest of the case. If the complaint is inaccurate or incomplete, your case could be rejected for insufficient pleadings.
Damages You May Claim in a Quogue Personal Injury Case
Your damages are one of the most important elements in your case and one of the most challenging. We must identify all your damages and accurately evaluate them. Otherwise, you might not get all the financial compensation you deserve.
Your economic damages are based on how much money the accident cost you. This may include big hospital bills, property damage and repairs, lost income from being unable to work, and various other costs associated with recovering from the accident.
Non-economic damages are more subjective and might not be proven by how much they cost. Instead, these damages are rooted in how the accident affected you physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Your physical pain, distress, suffering, humiliation, and other painful personal experiences should be claimed.
Call Our Quogue Personal Injury Attorneys for Legal Help Now
For a private, free case analysis, call (631) 910-7493 and talk to our personal injury attorneys at The Carrion Law Firm.