Have you been involved in a workplace accident, car accident, or personal injury? If so, you may be able to file a personal injury claim. There is a lot that goes into these claims. The very first step is seeking medical attention from a personal lawyer chiropractor in Freeport to start your recovery process, but all to assess the severity of your injury.
What is a Personal Injury Law?
Personal injury law allows an injured person to file a lawsuit to get compensated for damages, which include any losses as a result of an accident. The purpose of personal injury law, also known as tort law, is to allow the injured person to be compensated financially after having suffered harm from negligent conduct. Negligence is the failure to take proper care when doing something. In other words, the other party was supposed to act in a way that would keep you safe and not cause any harm. When they fail to do this, their negligence causes injury.
When Do Personal Injury Rules Apply
There are several different situations where personal injury rules come into play. In some of the situations, you may experience physical harm that requires medical attention. If this is the case, visit a personal injury chiropractor in Freeport.
- Accidents: As mentioned previously, personal injury rules apply when someone acts negligently. This can be seen in car accidents and slip and fall accidents.
- Intentional Acts: Personal injury laws also apply when the defendant’s intentional actions cause harm to another.
- Defective Products: When a product, such as a vehicle component, medical device, or pharmaceutical, is defective and therefore dangerous, anyone who has been harmed by the use of the product can file a product liability lawsuit.
- Defamation: This is when there is a false statement made about you by someone else. This statement is published as a statement of fact and therefore causes harm to you personally, whether it be your reputation, financial loss, or emotional distress.
Why Hire a Lawyer?
By trying to handle the situation yourself, you will likely complicate the claim process. Lawyers are professionals who have spent years studying the law and gathering the knowledge and experience to represent clients. Lawyers can give you insight and advice to ensure that you get fully compensated for your injury. For example, you may accept the settlement too soon. A lawyer will advise you to wait until the full extent of your injuries is known. They will be able to help you determine the right time to accept the offer so that you receive full compensation for damages.
How the Process Works
- The plaintiff is injured. You first need to provide proof of your injury. You can get medical proof by visiting a personal injury chiropractor in Freeport.
- A complaint is filed and served on the defendant. The complaint is the first official document of the case. It lays out all of the details about the situation, including what the defendant did and how the plaintiff was injured.
- The defendant hires an attorney. This is not a difficult process as long as the defendant has assets or an insurance policy that applies to the situation.
- The case enters the pre-trial and discovery phase. During this time, both sides will gather evidence and witness information from one another. They also use this time to inform the judge about how the case will move forward, either through mediation or arbitration.
- The trial phase of the personal injury lawsuit now begins and lasts several days. First, the judge will determine if the defendant is at fault for the injuries. If they are, the judge will then determine how much money the defendant is required to pay out in damages.
- The outcome is most likely a settlement. Most personal injury cases will settle before the trial begins. The parties can agree to settle and end the case at any point in the process described above.
Seeing a Doctor First
If you have been injured in an accident, the first step is seeing a personal injury chiropractor in Freeport or any medical professional from our team to get an evaluation and treatment. There are two main reasons for this. First, your health and well-being are the number one priority. Second, you need to have verification from an expert of a significant injury. Without this, you may not have a valid claim. Your lawyer and the insurance company can assess the severity of the damages through proper documentation of a medical examination. The timing of when you see your personal injury chiropractor in Freeport is also very important. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to establish a connection between the accident and the injury. To help strengthen your claim, you should keep the following medical records on file:
- Medical bills
- Receipts for prescription costs
- Hospitalization records
- Proof of doctor’s visits and surgeries performed
- Receipts for medical equipment, including wheelchairs or crutches
- Records of visits with a therapist or psychologist
Contact Us
Our team at New York Injury Associates will help you get the proper medical attention after suffering a personal injury. Our personal injury chiropractor in Freeport and all of our other doctors will provide you with the best care and help you with your personal injury claim. If you have been in an accident, your first step is to call our team here at New York Injury Associates.