If you’ve been in a car, slip and fall or other accident, your first thought may be to forget about it and not make a claim — especially if the accident was minor. But there are important reasons why you should seriously consider making a claim if an accident occurs.
One obvious reason is to recover money you are legally entitled to receive for your injuries and losses. If you don’t make a claim, you’ll have to pay for these yourself. You may think you were not badly hurt or that your injuries are minor. But remember that some injuries take a long time to develop. Making a claim will protect you in case the physical symptoms of your injuries show up later. Medical bills, lost wages and other costs can add up fast even in seemingly minor accidents, and you will want to be protected if this is the situation with your accident.
Another reason why it’s important to make a claim after an accident is that it helps prevent injuries to other people. Making a claim sends a strong message to business owners and others that steps must be taken to fix dangers, make products safer and protect consumers. Lawsuits over defective consumer products – like unsafe toys, medical devices, drugs and home appliances – have caused their makers to remove dangerous items from the market, redesign them or improve warnings. This has saved the lives of many people.
A first step in making a claim is seeking legal help. Your lawyer will tell you if you have a strong case and the damages you can recover. With this information, you will be in a much better position to decide whether to pursue your claim.
Speak Your Mind