ESPANOL
Personal injury compensation is a financial award that someone can pursue after they suffer injuries in an accident. This can come in the form of an insurance settlement or a jury award. Someone could secure compensation for a personal injury by filing an insurance claim or lawsuit.
You Could Collect Financial Awards for Multiple Damages
Depending on the type of accident or injury someone suffers, they could pursue multiple forms of damages. For instance, if a person suffers an injury in a car accident, they might be able to seek out compensation to cover the following:
- Medical costs: This can include costs for ambulance rides, emergency medical care, ongoing treatments, surgeries, mobility devices, and prescriptions.
- Pain and suffering: Pain and suffering can apply to any mental distress or trauma that someone suffers during or because of the accident.
- Physical disfigurement and impairment: This can apply to any physical injury that permanently changes your appearance or ability to move, such as burns, amputations, severe abrasions. This may also apply if you developed a severe disability or blindness as a result of an accident.
- Property damage: You may be able to recover costs for vehicle repairs or replacement.
How to Secure Personal Injury Compensation
Securing financial compensation occurs through filing a claim with an insurance company. The insurance company will review the victim’s claim and either offer a settlement or deny the claim. If the claimant receives a settlement offer, the claimant can negotiate for a larger settlement or accept the initial offer.
It is important to note, however, that some insurance companies may utilize tactics to underpay people in need. If someone accepts an initial offer, their case will close, and they will be unable to pursue any further compensation. It may be difficult to predict how much compensation an accident victim might need for the future, as they might not fully recover until long after the accident itself.
If someone wants to file a personal injury lawsuit, they may be eligible to do so. An accident victim filing a lawsuit becomes a plaintiff, and the party they are pursuing damages from becomes the defendant at this point. The plaintiff can compile evidence, which they would also do when filing an insurance claim, to support their testimony. The process of collecting this evidence is referred to as “discovery,” as discussed by the American Bar Association (ABA).
ABA also discusses how most cases settle before they ever make it to trial. The plaintiff and defendant (or their legal representatives) may negotiate for a settlement to keep total costs downor to avoid complications if the case gets taken to court.
Plaintiffs Can Work With a Lawyer
People injured after an accident do not need to work with a lawyer; doing so is not mandatory. However, it can be hectic after an accident. Injuries, legal questions, and external responsibilities can press on people—and financial worries can, too. Working with a lawyer can alleviate some of the stress that comes with pursuing damages.
A lawyer can:
- Negotiate and communicate with insurance companies on their clients’ behalf, so victims do not have to do so
- Answer questions
- Protect their clients’ rights
- File paperwork
If Someone Was Injured at Work
If an accident at work caused an injury, a person may be eligible for workers’ compensation. Depending on how their accident occurred, someone may be able to apply for lost wages and medical costs from your state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission.
How People Can Prepare to Pursue Compensation
Claimants can get themselves ready to file for damages by doing the following:
- Writing down everything they can remember about the accident, so no details are lost
- Requesting a copy of the police report
- Taking photos that prove your injuries have healed
- Compiling all photos and videos of your vehicle damage and injuries
- Keeping receipts for medical appointments, auto mechanic visits, and prescriptions
Your lawyer may advise you on what specific information you can provide to strengthen your case.
Work With George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers
Our firm has helped South Carolinians and Georgians for decades. We have helped people who were bitten by dogs, slipped in public and private properties, and those who were hit by cars or trucks. You can discuss your accident and injuries with our team, and we will inform you of your options and what forms of damages you may be able to pursue.
If you have any questions about what personal injury compensation is, feel free to call our team and speak to a representative. Contact George Sink, P.A. Injury Lawyers today.