Your lawyer will take into consideration your current and future medical costs, lost income due to the absence of work because of your injuries, and the impact that your injuries have had on your quality of living in calculating your claim. These damages are known as suffering and pain.
A lawyer is a person who has completed a law degree and has a license to practice law in the jurisdiction where they are licensed.Medical Records
Medical records are an important component of any injury lawsuit. They are the primary evidence used to support an injury claim, and assist lawyers in determining if the lawsuit is feasible and what amount of compensation could be awarded. To provide detailed information about the nature and extent injuries suffered in an accident medical records from doctors, hospitals emergency rooms, therapists, and specialists are required.
These documents can include information like the list of symptoms, duration of time that the patient has been suffering from them, and the cost for treating their injuries. Additionally, x-rays and other imaging studies are important to determine the extent of the damage. A doctor's future prognosis will also provide valuable information on how long an injured patient might be afflicted by their injury.
It may seem intrusive to provide insurance companies with your medical records, however it is imperative to ensure that they have the whole story. This will aid in establishing causation and lead to an award of compensation that is substantial. The insurance company may require these records by way of a subpoena or court order. Your lawyer can ensure that only the documents relevant to your situation are provided.
It is important to remember that the insurance company has its own bottom line in mind. They will try to find every excuse to discredit or reduce the value of your injury claim. This is why it's important to partner with a seasoned personal injury lawyer who can handle the negotiations and settlement process.
It's a good idea to review your medical records by an attorney prior to release. Depending on your case certain medical records could be restricted. For instance when you've had a history of mental health issues or abuse of substances. Your attorney will make sure that you only provide the medical records relevant to your particular case. This will help to avoid any errors that could undermine your claim.
Witness Statements
Witness statements are a critical piece of evidence in any personal injury case. Lawyers rely upon them to determine the timeframes, the actions of the parties involved, and their impact on their clients. It is therefore important to obtain eyewitnesses' statements as soon after the accident as you can, while the incident is still fresh in the mind.
The statement can be written by anyone, such as spouse, a relative or a colleague. It must answer the who whom, what, where when and why questions of the accident. It should also contain specifics such as the conditions of the weather at the time of the accident, as well as any obstructions or blind curves that impacted visibility and road surface conditions.
Ideally, the witnesses are neutral parties who are not associated with either party and can offer an objective view of what transpired. However, some witnesses might be affected by their feelings or prejudices toward one side or the other. The witness should not express any opinions or arguments during their testimony. Instead, they should focus on establishing the facts of what transpired and leave any criticism to the jury.
Another reason it is important to get witness statements as soon as is possible after the incident is the fact that memories fade over time. The memory of witnesses about an accident may be distorted when it is different from what actually happened. This could cause confusion for the court and the insurance company. An experienced personal injury lawyer can make the difference in obtaining an appropriate settlement.
A witness statement can also be used to back the claim of injury, for example the person's behavior and attitude after the accident, or if the injuries resulted from the accident or were caused by pre-existing conditions. The witness can also describe the effects of their condition, like being unable to attend family reunions or having trouble getting to work.
It is also worth noting that the witness's statement should include an Statement of Truth at the end, which the witness will sign to confirm that everything in the document is true to the best of their knowledge. If witnesses are found to have committed a fraud they could be accused of committing a crime and this could negatively impact their credibility in the case.
Photographs
Photographs of an accident that involve lawyers are valuable evidence that can support a personal albuquerque injury attorney case. They can be extremely useful in showing the negligence as well as suffering and pain, lost wages, medical bills, estimates of property damage as well as other expenses relating to the accident. Photos can help a jury, insurance adjusters, and your personal injury attorney to understand the scene of the accident as well as what you experienced as a result of it.
If the liability for the accident is disputed, photographs are especially important because they help experts identify actions that could have contributed to the accident by examining particulars such as skid marks, the final resting positions of vehicles and the patterns of damage. When paired with witness statements and other forms of evidence, photographs offer no room for interpretation and could help an insurance company to settle your case instead of fight it in court.
Most smartphones and cameras make it simple to take pictures of accident scenes. It is recommended to take several photos of the scene from various angles and even capture some video if possible. Be sure to record the date and time of day on the back of each photograph or ask a family member to do it. Do not move or touch any object in your photographs. Also, don't make use of Photoshop to edit the photos. This could be considered tampering.
It is a good idea, once you've recovered, to take photos of your injuries at various moments during your recovery. This will allow you to document the progress over time. This is particularly helpful to prove your losses for future damage.
Photographs, when coupled with other evidence, such as medical records or evidence of income or an estimate of the damage to your car can assist a judge or jury to award you the compensation that you deserve. Contact us for a free consultation our attorneys today to learn more about how we can help you with your case.
Demand Letter
A demand letter is a formal document that your attorney sends to your insurance company to request compensation for your loss. The letter usually outlines who you are, how the accident occurred and why you need compensation. It provides a thorough description of your injuries and how they have affected you, such as economic losses like medical bills and lost earnings and non-economic losses such as pain and suffering, loss of quality of life and emotional distress. The letter should also include any evidence supporting your claim. This could include police reports, medical records and witness statements.
A good personal injury attorney can help you determine the proper amount to request in your demand letter. This will be based upon your damages and comparable settlements or verdicts for similar accidents that have occurred within the area. They will also take into consideration any unique circumstances in your case that could affect the result.
After your personal injury lawyer has written and sent the demand letter there is a wait before you receive a response from the insurance company. This will depend on the amount of time it takes the insurance company to comb through your claim and examine your case. This is also affected by their workload as well as the number of cases they're currently dealing with.
In some instances the insurance company could respond by refusing to accept your demands or making a counter-offer that is far below what you want to accept. Further negotiations will be required. In these instances, an attorney for personal injury from Chris Hudson Law Group can help you negotiate and ensure you receive a fair settlement.
A lawyer who is skilled will recognize that insurance companies will try to reject claims or settle them as quickly and as cheaply as they can. They will know how to spot stalling tactics and strategies employed by insurance companies and will employ their knowledge and experience to negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you are getting an appropriate settlement for your injuries.
