Being injured in an accident can permanently alter your life, resulting in lifelong physical injuries, massive medical expenses, and significant lost wages. While a personal injury claim can relieve the financial burden of your injuries, the process of collecting these damages is often extremely complex, with even minor mistakes potentially jeopardizing your case. Fortunately, following the advice of experienced personal injury attorneys can help ensure you receive the maximum award for your damages.

3 Tips for Filing a Personal Injury Claim

1. Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Even if your injuries don't appear to be extensive, see a doctor as soon as possible. Many soft-tissue injuries may take days to fully develop, which gives insurers an opportunity to dispute liability, claiming that your damages did not stem from the accident. The more complete your medical documentation is, the stronger your personal injury claim will be.

2. Do Not Speak Directly With Insurers

In many cases, insurance companies may quickly extend a low settlement offer, in the hopes of closing the case for less than the value of the victim's damages. These insurers often refuse to negotiate with victims without legal representation and are adept at using a victim's own statements against them to reduce the final settlement amount or have the case dismissed entirely.

3. Hire a Personal Injury Attorney

In a personal injury case, your attorney may be the only one actively advocating for your interests. In addition to negotiating with insurers, an experienced lawyer will gather evidence, contact witnesses, and initiate a civil case to collect damages on your behalf, if necessary

For over 130 years, Hudson Valley residents have relied on the personal injury attorneys at MacVean, Lewis, Sherwin & McDermott, P.C. for quality representation and legal expertise. Follow their Facebook now for more tips and advice, visit their website for more information about their personal injury services, or call (845) 343-3000 to schedule a consultation today.