Locate the proper insurance company and notify them:
1. Contact Opposing Party’s Insurance Company
A personal injury attorney can send letter of representation to opposing party’s insurance to inform them that any future correspondence will go through the personal injury attorney’s office. An Arlington TX personal injury lawyer could also set up a claim with the opposing party’s insurance company for liability, as well as your insurance company for any personal injury protection you may have on your policy. If the insurance company wants to take a recorded statement from you, a personal injury attorney could be present at the recorded statement and ensure your claim is effectively protected.
Gather necessary documents to pursue your claim:
2. Gather factual evidence
A personal injury attorney is familiar with terminology used to gather evidence necessary to prove appropriate facts for your claim. A personal injury lawyer can send an open records request to the police department that responded to the scene of the accident to get any reports drafted by the officer. He or she could also contact any lay witnesses or witnesses from 911 calls and try to get as much information about the facts of the accident as possible. A personal injury lawyer could visit the scene of the accident and take pictures of the street and any track marks on the street resulting from the accident.
3. Order Medical Records and Bills
Along with assisting a client with medical care by referring them to a doctor, a personal injury lawyer can also order medical records and bills on behalf of the client.
Negotiations:
4. Prepare a Demand
Once the medical bills and records are ordered and treatment comes to an end, a personal injury lawyer can draft a demand with factual evidence, police report information, treatment information, damages incurred as a result of the accident, and forward that to the opposing party’s insurance company.
5. Negotiate for a settlement
After the opposing party reviews the demand and makes an offer to settle the claim, a personal injury lawyer could further negotiate the claim to get an adequate settlement by properly evaluating your damages. If the insurance company refuses to pay an adequate amount for your claim, a personal injury attorney could file a lawsuit on your behalf. If uninsured motorist coverage or underinsured motorist coverage needs to be collected on your behalf, a personal injury attorney can assist you with that as well.
Thanks to our friend and blog author, Brandy Austin of Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC, for her added insight into the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer.
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