Proving a Premises Liability Claim: Essential Steps and Tips
By PAGE Editor
If somebody is injured on somebody else’s property and the accident was not your fault, the landowner could be liable. Liable just means responsible by law. If you have been injured by the negligence of a landowner, then you could be eligible for compensation.
The amount you could be owed depends largely on the severity of your injuries and how your accident happened. This post’s intention is to tell you how you can prove a premises liability claim and everything else you need to know about getting the money you are entitled to.
Find Legal Representation
The very first thing you need to think about in the wake of an accident is whether compensation is possible or not. If somebody else’s negligence has caused you to hurt yourself, they owe you money. There are many types of personal injury lawyers, but you need a premises liability lawyer if you were injured on somebody else’s property. A premises liability lawyer will be able to walk you through the claims process and help you win the compensation you are owed. Finding one can be a challenge if you have never had to before, however. You need to put emphasis on quality above everything else. Make sure the lawyer you hire is experienced, knowledgeable, and has a professional attitude.
Understand the Claims Process
Making a claim for compensation can be very stressful if you’ve never had any involvement with the law before. Many people find the easiest way to overcome the inherent stress of personal injury claims is to find the most experienced attorney they can. An attorney’s level of expertise can be ascertained from the feedback left on their site by former clients. You also need to make sure that the attorney you hire has a good attitude and responds to people’s inquiries in a timely manner. The last thing you want is to work with a lawyer who’s not responsive. This is because they will take too long to get back to you, might not answer your queries effectively, and could needlessly delay the process. An attorney’s reviews will usually give you insight into how responsive they are. The speed with which they respond to your inquiries will, too.
Obtain As Much Evidence As Possible
It is also important to obtain as much evidence as possible. When you make a claim for compensation, you need to prove your injuries happened the way you claim they did. Being unable to prove your injuries happened can make compensation impossible. A lot of people do overlook evidence, and as a result, do not end up with the maximum amount of compensation. The best evidence you can get are photos and videos from the scene of the accident, but witness statements and even admissions of guilt by the landowners can also be very helpful. You will also need to get a medical note from a doctor that explains your injuries. This is so that the insurance company compensation is being claimed from does not undervalue your claim so they can save themselves money.
Formalize Your Claim with a Statement
If you want to make a claim for compensation and have enough evidence to prove your injuries occurred the way you have said they did, you can go ahead and formalize things by making a statement and asking your lawyer to pursue damages. The process of formalizing a claim is very simple, and can sometimes be done on the phone.
Many lawyers will ask to meet you in person, though. You should expect to meet a lawyer in person if your claim is a large one. Many small claims are dealt with by call center clerks and paralegals nowadays, mainly to save large personal injury firms time and by extension money. If you are going to formalize your claim, make sure that you have all evidence and necessary documentation prepared. This is so you don’t have to delay your claim, so your lawyer can get this information. If you do not have evidence, some law firms will turn you away. This is because it’s not in their interest to gather information for small claims.
Record All Medical Expenses Incurred
After being injured by another person or due to another person’s negligence, make sure you record all medical expenses incurred as a result of your injuries. This is so that you can claim the right amount of compensation. A large part of most people’s compensation claims is refunded to them or their insurers for medical fees.
However, if your injuries were very serious or have changed your life in some way, you can also receive compensation on top of your medical refund, so you can live your life the way you normally would, even with your new injuries. You can also receive compensation that refunds lost wages to you. In addition to getting lost wages refunded, you should consider applying for disability benefits. Disability benefits can be paid to the victims of accidents, as long as their injuries have stopped them from working.
Focus On Your Recovery
Finally, try also to focus on your recovery. A lot of people get injured in accidents, and then spend the rest of their lives focused on their injuries and trauma stemming from their accidents. While some accidents can be very traumatic, it’s still a good idea to pursue professional mental health support to get over them. Dwelling on an accident for the rest of your life is by no means good for your health, physically or mentally. If you need to, take time off of work. If your injuries were serious, you could be eligible for disability benefits, as mentioned in the previous section. If you plan on applying for disability benefits, you may want to enlist the help of a charity that coaches people through the application process. As applying for disability benefits can be very complicated, a professional’s help can be very useful.
Accidents happen for many different reasons. If you were injured because a landowner did not take precautions to protect you or behaved negligently, make sure that you get in touch with a premises liability lawyer. A lawyer of this kind will be able to formalize your claim and help you to win a compensation settlement.
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