When you are injured in an accident caused by someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. Naturally, you want to maximize the amount of compensation you receive for your pain and suffering.
The actions you take after an accident can greatly impact your chances of receiving full compensation. One of the first steps you should take is to consult with an experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorney who can guide you through the legal process, help ensure you receive all the compensation you deserve, and that you file your claim before the statute of limitations deadline.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
Choosing an experienced, skillful personal injury attorney is one of the most important steps you can take after an accident. The best Oklahoma City accident attorneys know how to navigate this legal landscape and tailor the strongest possible strategy for your case.
An experienced Oklahoma City personal injury attorney can help you gather and preserve important evidence to prove your case such as accident reports, police reports, medical records, photographs or video of the accident scene, and more. They also have access to experts who can help strengthen your case, including medical experts and reconstruction specialists when needed.
After hiring a personal injury lawyer, follow their advice closely. Your attorney can explain what steps you should and should not take to protect your right to receive maximum compensation for your damages.
Consistently Document Your Injuries
Documenting your injuries is vital to your case and to receiving full compensation for your pain and suffering. Keep a file to hold all medical records, correspondence with insurance companies, and anyone else related to your accident or injuries. Anything that may be helpful to your case should be kept in this file that you will share with your attorney.
You should also keep a journal to document your pain and suffering and how your injuries are impacting your day-to-day life. Taking this action will help strengthen your case and maximize your pain and suffering compensation.
Get Assessed By A Doctor
Even if you initially think you are not hurt, you should get a medical evaluation. Promptly seeking medical attention after the accident can be essential to your case. If you delay treatment, the defendants in your case could argue that your pain and suffering is not serious or is unrelated to the accident.
Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
You should follow any treatment plan, including therapy, prescribed by your doctor. If you fail to follow your doctor’s orders, the defendants may claim that your injuries must not be that serious.
Calculate Economic Damages
In Oklahoma, your compensation for pain and suffering may be calculated by considering other types of damages in the personal injury case. For example, the higher your economic damages, the greater your pain and suffering compensation is likely to be.
Pain and suffering compensation is sometimes determined by multiplying your medical expenses and lost income by a number between 1.5 and 5. Make sure you keep receipts for every dollar of your medical expenses and that you can accurately prove your lost wages.
Obtain Expert Witness Statements
Your Oklahoma City personal injury attorney should have access to experts who can provide statements to strengthen your case. Expert witnesses may include your primary care practitioner, your surgeon, your psychiatrist or counselor, economists, or other professionals your attorney thinks will be helpful.
These expert witnesses can help prove the severity of your pain and suffering and how they are impacting your life. This type of evidence can be essential in maximizing compensation.
Prepare For Trial If Settlement Can’t Be Negotiated
You want to be sure your Oklahoma personal injury attorney is a masterful negotiator. However, you also want them to be ready to aggressively take your case to trial if a fair settlement can not be reached. Your personal injury attorney should have a proven track record of achieving maximum compensation for their clients.