Personal Injury Lawyer | Lawsuit Timeline

First Step: Seek Medical Attention

This step is not only for your own health and safety, but is also a vital step that will help allow you recover compensation.  By seeking immediate medical help you improve your chances of proving injuries during settlement negotiations with an insurance company or during a lawsuit.  If you do not seek medical treatment for your injuries, an insurance adjuster, judge, or jury may have a hard time believing that you were truly injured in the accident.

Third Step: File an Insurance Claim or Demand a Settlement

In a personal injury case, claims are usually filed against the insurance company for the at-fault party.  If you are injured in a car accident, a claim will be filed with the at-fault driver’s insurance company before a lawsuit is filed.  A minimal amount of car insurance coverage is required in most states. Also, insurance companies are required to provide “uninsured driver” protection in case a person is hit by an uninsured driver.

If a doctor makes a mistake during a procedure the patient may file a claim with the insurance company through which the doctor has medical malpractice insurance coverage. After filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, a claims adjuster will be assigned to investigate the claim and negotiate a settlement.  If an insurance company is not involved, a demand letter can be sent to the other party demanding a settlement for injuries sustained.