Unfortunately, accidents can happen at any time, which means a significant number of people sustain injuries as a result of unforeseen incidents. Every year, more than 12,000 people in Oklahoma suffer injuries due to car accidents. In addition to this, Oklahoma is one of the most dangerous states to work in, with an occupational fatalities rate of 6.8 per 100,000 workers, and many more thousands of employers sustaining injuries every year.
When you consider the wide variety of accidents that occur, from slips, trips, and falls to dog bite injuries, it’s easy to see why more than 460 people out of every 1,000 in Oklahoma visit an Emergency Room every year.
If you’ve sustained an injury and someone else was partly or totally responsible, you could be eligible to claim compensation from them. If so, take a look at these top five tips to maximize the compensation you receive:
1. Get Medical Treatment
The medical treatment you receive will reflect the severity of your injuries, as well as the impact they’ve had on you. Furthermore, your medical records can be used as evidence when you make your claim for compensation.
2. Retain Evidence
As well as using your medical records as evidence in your claim, photographs of your injuries or the scene of the incident, as well as CCTV footage or witness reports can also be used to support your case. By retaining all of the evidence you have, you can ensure that liability is correctly assigned to the person, people or company responsible for your injuries and that the true impact of the accident is understood.
3. Consider the Future
When you make a personal injury claim, don’t focus solely on the costs you’ve incurred or the physical or emotional harm you suffered to date. It’s important to present evidence relating to any future expenses you may incur due to your injuries, as well as showing how the incident may affect your short and long-term future. This ensures that your compensation will reflect the real effects of the incident, rather than the impact it has had thus far.
4. Don’t Settle Too Early
The vast majority of personal injury cases in the U.S. are resolved via a settlement but, if the party responsible for your injuries makes you a settlement offer, you’ll want to think carefully about whether or not to accept it. Early settlement offers often devalue a case and don’t reflect the severity of the situation or your injuries. In some instances, negotiating a better offer or taking the case to trial could result in a higher compensation payout being made.
5. Get Legal Advice
Making a successful compensation claim can be tricky, particularly if you don’t have any experience in a courtroom. By working with an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can ensure that your case is presented properly and that your interests are protected throughout. What’s more – your personal injury attorney will have the skills and expertise required to maximize your compensation.
Getting the Compensation You Deserve
If you’ve been injured due to an accident that wasn’t wholly your fault, you shouldn’t have to deal with practical, financial, and emotional repercussions alone. By seeking legal advice and instigating a claim, you can ensure that you’re compensated for the harm you’ve sustained.