In a personal injury issue it is not always necessary to hire the services of an attorney in the first instance. You can initiate proceedings on your own, but if you find the opposing party obdurate and if it is not forthcoming with a reasonable settlement, than an attorney's services are warranted. More often than not, people and insurance companies will try and avoid litigation as far as possible. This is a good thought to bear in mind.
However, to strengthen in your case, whether or not you decide an attorney, the following tips are invaluable.
a) Keep a record of events as they unfold especially immediately after the incident or accident when the events are still fresh in your mind. Make note of the names and addresses of all the witnesses around. In event of a motor accident take several photographs of the site and the positioning of the vehicles in relation to each other.
b) Ensure you advise the appropriate authority at the earliest and obtain some sort of acknowledgment. In the case of an accident it would be the police.
c) Advise the party that has caused you injury of your intent to claim damages and compensation for the injury to have sustained.
d) Carefully retrain all your medical bills, cost of medicines, specialist bills, x-rays and tests and everything else related to your recovery. Ask your doctor to meticulously record your progress including the degree of pain you have sustained.
e) Obtain documentary evidence of loss of earnings.
f) When you are ready, address a letter to the injured party and/or his insurance company listing your claim. This letter should be accompanied by copies of all relevant documents, photographs, bills, car repair bills police reports and anything else to substantiate your claim.
g) List out the extent of damages you are claiming under the separate heads finally mentioning pain and suffering.
h) Allow 15 days for a response with a veiled threat that should they fail to reply then you will be constrained to proffer a lawsuit.
If you follow the aforementioned procedure, you will be well on your way to obtaining the compensation you deserve.
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