What Can I Expect When Filing a Personal Injury Claim

After sustaining an injury, not only are you in physical and mental anguish, you may also be in shock from the traumatic experience. By obtaining legal representation, you can focus on getting well, while your attorney handles everything else. Many personal injury victims are scared or hesitant to contact an attorney after an accident, because they do not know what to expect. In order to reduce any stress or anxiety, we are going to do a brief overview of the process, once we receive a call from a potential client.

What You Can Expect

Once you do your research and contact a qualified and experienced attorney in your area, they will ask questions and probe as to the reason for your call. The attorney may ask you for an overall description of your accident, what happened, who was injured and what types of injuries were sustained. Depending on how severe your injuries are, the matter may need urgent legal attention and that will determine what the first step of your case should be.

If you have not received medical attention for your injuries, your attorney will probably advise you to see a doctor and have your injuries treated. Your health and comfort is top priority, not only will you feel better but you can also use those medical records as further evidence in your case.

Once you decide that this attorney is the one you want to represent you and the attorney takes on your case, then you will be protected under what is called "Attorney / client privilege," which means that anything you share with them is completely confidential if you so choose. If you want some details of the accident kept personal, then your attorney is not legally able to share them.

After sitting down with your attorney and telling them all the little details of the incident, your attorney can then determine whether you have a valid personal injury claim or not and how much your claim could be worth. Your attorney will probably advise you not be come into contact with the other party or to make any formal statements to the insurance company about the accident. Anything that you say to them could be used against you as evidence in the case, so it is always best to refrain.

Your attorney will most likely have you explain the happenings of the accident several times so that nothing is missed. It is always best to write down everything that occurred that day so it stays fresh in your mind and your story does not waiver. They may also encourage you to take photos of your injury (If it is still visible) or to search for photos of the accident (If you took any). When it comes to personal injury evidence, it is essential that all evidence is preserved and not tampered with in any way. If you were injured by a defective product, leave it just as it is and take a picture of it just as it was when your injury occurred.

An experienced personal injury attorney will then begin to do more thorough investigative research about your case. For example, your attorney will ask to speak with any witnesses who saw the accident occur and get their testimony to use as evidence. Your attorney will need your personal contact information so they can set up the next one-on-one meeting and they will explain what the next step will be and how it will be handles. They will most likely as you to bring in certain materials, paperwork or objects that pertain to the case. A second meeting however, is not always necessary; sometimes the rest of the case can be handled via phone or email.

At the end of your meeting, make sure that you take that time to ask your attorney questions and have them address any concerns that you may have. Also be sure to talk about attorney fee arrangements and matters of payment.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, take swift legal action today and recover the full amount of restitution that you deserve. At Clemens Blair, we offer individual time and attention to every case and we will do everything in our power to help you obtain a favorable outcome in your case.

We offer a free initial case evaluation to all potential clients. If you would like to schedule an appointment, be sure to contact an Oklahoma City personal injury attorney at our firm today!