If you’ve been in a car, slip and fall or other accident and want to make a claim, probably the first question you will have is “Do I have a good case?” There are several factors to consider when answering this question. They include:
Is the other person at fault?
For your claim to succeed, generally a person or business must be at fault — this means they must have done something wrong or failed to do something.
But don’t rule out making a claim just because you were partly at fault for an accident, as in most states you can still recover damages. Also don’t rule out making a claim until you have all the facts. Many people mistakenly think they caused an accident and give up a valuable claim when the other person was really at fault. Our law firm can help investigate the accident and advise you how the issue of fault will likely be resolved. We can also advise you if you are entitled to compensation even if you were partly to blame for the accident.
Did you suffer damage?
To receive money after an accident you must suffer “damage.” “Damage” can cover many things, like medical bills, lost wages, costs to fix or replace property, and pain and suffering.
Even if right after the accident you think you were not badly hurt or that you did not incur any damages, you still may have a good case. That’s because some injuries take time to develop. Since all your injuries may not be known for a long time, call our law firm after an accident even if your injuries seem minor. We will protect your rights in case they get worse and you later have medical bills, lost wages and other damages resulting from the accident.
Can you collect?
Even if the other person is at fault and you suffered damage, your victory has value only if you are paid. Thus, before you make a claim, you will want to know that the other party has money, property or insurance so you can collect if you win.
But remember there can be many sources for recovering damages. So don’t give up a claim just because you think the person who caused the accident cannot afford to pay. There may be other parties responsible for paying your damages, like the person’s employer or your own insurance.
Are you within the time limit to make a claim?
Another factor for assessing if your case is strong is whether under the law you are still entitled to make a claim. Laws set strict deadlines for making personal injury claims. If you wait too long and the deadline passes, your case will be dismissed, no matter how strong it is.
If you are in an accident, call us to find out if you have a good case. We can analyze the issues of fault, damages, timeliness and ability to collect and advise you if your case is strong. Many accident victims mistakenly think their case is weak when in reality it is strong. Calling us as soon after the accident as possible will help make sure that if you do have a good case, you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses.
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