Accidents can happen to anyone, but the detrimental effects of personal injuries are more pronounced when it comes to seniors because of their existing health issues and other age-related factors. Therefore, understanding how to deal with an injury claim effectively is crucial for any older person who is contemplating filing. Here’s a guide to help seniors navigate the process and make informed decisions down the line before filing a personal injury claim.
Seek Medical Attention Immediately
It is now a law in every state of the country that the very first step after any accident should always be seeking medical attention. A senior in this position must closely monitor whether or not their internal structures or organs sustained injury. The evidence is crucial in injury claims. They must also capture essential information like the extent of injuries and the type of treatment given. An early examination can assist with the diagnosis of concealed injuries that do not show externally, for instance, soft tissue injuries or internal injuries that one could have suffered.
Gather Evidence
To make a stronger case, you need to present maximum information. An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer may help you to gather relevant evidence such as pictures of the accident scene, a police report copy, and contact details of the other driver. All these may help to build a strong injury claim at a later stage. The following are the types of information you may need to capture:
- Pictures: Capture the location of the accident, visible injuries, and any damaged property.
- Statements from Bystanders: Ask people who witnessed the event for their contact information so that they may offer statements regarding their account of events.
- Incident Reports: If it is an automobile accident, be sure to report this to the police and obtain a copy of the report.
- Patient Files: List all doctors, clinics, hospitals, and specialists seen and have their offices send out copies of notes, charts, and relevant treatment documentation.
Your effort in collecting this information will be significant in proving fault and the severity of the injury sustained, which in turn will establish the level of liability to which you may be entitled.
Know the Statute of Limitations
Every single state has a statute of limitations that imposes deadlines for specific legal actions for as long as a set period of time, like filing personal injury claims. For seniors, this timeline is especially important because it may differ for various car accidents or regions.
Typically, the statute of limitations hurts the claimant instead of helping in a lot of states, as it is two years from the date of the accident in Philadelphia. If you happen to miss this deadline, you may end up losing your chance to obtain compensation for your personal injuries. It means help from an attorney would be valuable early on in the process so that you do not miss any important deadlines.
Finding the right attorney
Choosing the correct personal injury attorney can be difficult but is extremely important, especially for older clients. If you do not have an experienced lawyer, that would harm your case as you may be unaware of your legal rights and how to represent yourself in court. While choosing an attorney, think of these points:
- Experience: It is always seen that experienced lawyers say that they deal with a lot of personal injury cases, but what you truly need are lawyers dealing with the aged in these cases. They will recognize the various hurdles aged people face and how to prepare the case properly.
- Reputation: Check reviews online and talk to family and friends or other people who have used the service to solicit their opinions about the process.
- Contingency Fee: The majority of personal injury lawyers handling injuries work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid when the claimant gets success in their case. Because of this, the elderly do not have to stress about paying the lawyers with no guarantee of reimbursement.
Need legal help? Talk to an attorney
Injury claims can be challenging, particularly for older adults. However, it becomes crucial to recover and receive appropriate compensation. By seeking medical care on time, collecting relevant materials, knowing when the statute of limitations expires, and searching for the right attorney, seniors increase their chances of pursuing compensation. Don’t wait to contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss how the matter will be processed and what steps need to be taken to protect your interests.