Responsibility is a core societal fabric. When each one of us acts conscientiously towards others, then we cultivate a sense of order. Conversely, a lack of accountability and recklessness is a recipe for chaos.
So important is the concept of responsibility that it is enshrined in US tort law. Specifically, if someone acts negligently, putting you at risk and causing harm, you can sue them, seeking retribution for the damages you suffered through a personal injury lawsuit.
With that in mind, this blog is intended for personal injury victims, giving them expert-recommended tips for winning their claims.
What Type of Personal Injury Suit Are You Filing?
The first step to securing compensation is understanding the kind of lawsuit you will be initiating, which depends on the specific situation that led to your injury, as outlined below:
- Animal bites
- Car accidents
- Slips and falls
- Workplace injuries
- Product liability
- Medical malpractice
Consult an Attorney
Personal injury law can be incredibly complex for the untrained individual. To make matters even more difficult, regulations surrounding this branch of civil law vary according to jurisdiction.
For these reasons, you should consider hiring a good Nevada personal injury attorney. Based on their years of training and subsequent experience handling cases similar to yours, they understand the do’s and don’ts when it comes to filing a claim, making their input invaluable.
Gather Evidence
Solid evidence is the backbone of any personal injury lawsuit. As such, you should collect as much proof as possible to support your claim. To that accord, your attorney can help you discern relevant supporting information, including photos of the incident scene, medical records, and witness statements.
Prove That the Defendant Was Negligent
Negligence is the foundational pillar of any personal injury claim. It is the fundamental element you must prove to chart a course to retribution. That’s not all, you must demonstrate that the defendant’s actions, or lack thereof, were the direct cause of the incident that caused you harm.
For example, if you were injured in a dog bite incident, you must prove that the owner should have taken measures to secure the animal. Furthermore, you must also show that their failure to take responsible care of their pet is what caused the bite incident, causing injuries that demanded medical attention.
Prove That You Suffered Damages
Once you have established causation, you ought to show that you suffered actual damages. The most important of these is medical expenses, which you will substantiate by presenting medical receipts, lab reports, prescriptions, and similar documents.
Document Your Expenses
As you may have inferred up to this point, personal injury cases are governed by the concept of negligence. On the same line, you will establish negligence using evidence. This means keeping receipts of all expenses related to the accident for which you should be compensated.
Keep off Social Media
“The majority of people today own at least one social media account. Therefore, it’s only natural that victims of personal injury may want to update their online family about the accident and the healing journey. However, we advise clients to stay off these platforms until they expedite the suit because even an innocent post may give the defendant’s team ammunition to undermine the plaintiff’s claims, which can lead to under-compensation,” says attorney Stephen Osborne of The Law Offices of Stephen H. Osborne.
