When you file a personal injury lawsuit in the state of Virginia for damages and injuries you suffered during an accident, you will have to be diligent regarding how you behave in the following months. The settlement you receive for your personal injury claim is reliant on your actions, evidence and the personal injury attorney you hire in Virginia.
The five tips will help you protect the validity of your personal injury claim and help avoid a wrongful denial of your settlement. When you use the tips here, you can save the time and frustration that is associated with claims that are denied.
Be Careful Who You Talk To Regarding the Personal Injury Lawsuit
Every word you say can be treated as evidence in a Virginia personal injury claim. Since Virginia is a contributory negligence state, you can’t be found to be at fault for your injuries in any way to be eligible to receive any type of monetary compensation. Even if you give just a small amount of information to the insurance adjusters that could indicate you were somewhat liable for the accident, it can be used to deny your personal injury settlement claim.
In most cases, your attorney will likely tell you to abstain posting anything on social media until after the settlement case has been closed. This is the best way to avoid serious issues and ensure that you get the monetary compensation you deserve for the injuries and damages that you suffered.
Discuss Everything with the Personal Injury Lawyer You Hire in Virginia
You need to make sure that you keep your attorney updated with any development in the case. This includes any conversations you have with the insurance company, doctors or anyone else that may relate or have something to do with the injury claim or accident. You also need to provide your attorney with copies of emails or letters you receive from other parties who were involved and take notes during phone conversations. Before you talk to an insurance company, be sure to discuss what you should and should not say with your personal injury attorney.
Keep in mind, if the insurance company has information that you have not provided your attorney, it can hurt your case significantly. The best way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to keep your attorney aware of what is going on during the process.
Explain all Your Medical Issues Related to the Personal Injury Accident
You should make sure that you don’t hide anything related to your injuries or health from your doctor. If something doesn’t feel right, you need to let them know. A huge mistake that many personal injury attorneys see in Virginia is that their clients don’t bother to mention the complications and pains they experience until it is too late to even claim them. In Virginia, there is a two-year statute of limitations, which means if you have begun to experience any new symptoms or conditions after the accident, you need to let your doctor know right away.
Maintain a Diary of Your Life after You have been in an Accident
One of the main parts of any personal injury lawsuit that often goes underpaid is the noneconomic damages that occur. This is also referred to as compensation for your pain, suffering and emotional distress. You need to keep a record of how the injuries you have suffered are impacting or impairing your day to day activities, as well as your overall quality of life. Make sure to note times you are unable to work due to the injuries, as well. You can provide these diaries to your personal injury attorney, who will then use them as evidence of how the injuries you suffered in the accident have led to serious financial, physical and emotional losses.
Be Honest about Your Personal Injury Accident
You should not try to overplay the injuries that you have experienced to help increase the settlement you are offered. Many insurance companies have been known to track the activity levels of claimants by using video surveillance, interviews, and even your social media accounts. If you claim you are unable to run because of a knee injury that you have suffered, and the insurance company finds evidence of you out jogging after the accident has occurred, it may be used to justify the denial of your personal injury claim in Virginia.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Virginia
One of the most important things that you need to keep in mind when you file a personal injury claim in Virginia is that you can’t be found at fault – at any level – for the accident if you want to be eligible to receive a monetary settlement for the injuries and damages you suffered. If you are injured because of someone else’s negligence, or if someone in your family dies because of this, you deserve to receive compensation for the loss you have suffered. It is best to find a Virginia personal injury lawyer who has prior experience handling these types of claims to ensure you have the best possible chance of recovering a fair settlement. You can recover damages for both economic and non-economic factors, so make sure to discuss this with your attorney to see what you may be able to recover.
The Virginia personal injury attorneys at Hilton & Somer will take the time to get to know you and the unique details of your situation to help you get the personalized attention and help you require. Our legal staff can handle all the complicated aspects of the case. If you are ready to file a personal injury claim, or if you have questions about the process, contact our legal team at Hilton & Somer by calling (703) 560-0700 today.
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