The Barnes Firm

Filing a Personal Injury Claim After an Accident – What You Need to Know

• March 12, 2019
• Sandy

You’ve recently been injured in an accident.

You’re are unable to work due to your injuries.  The hospital and doctor bills begin to pile up.  You continue to experience pain as a result of your injuries.

Should you file a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company?

If you find yourself in this position, here are a few things you need to know:

Details and Records:

After an accident, it is crucial you take note of every detail pertaining to your accident.  Details of the scene, the other driver(s), your injuries, and damages.  These notes will help you when you file your personal injury claim.

Make sure to take note of your injuries in the days following the accident.  Some pain and injuries caused by a car accident do not show symptoms for several days, so it’s important to notice any change in how you feel.

Pain and Suffering:

Pain and suffering occur in two ways: physical and mental.  The physical form of pain and suffering is the pain the car accident victim endures from the injuries caused by the accident.  This includes the pain and suffering the victim has experienced from the accident and any long-term effects they may have from the injury, including stress and anxiety.

Any type of negative emotion experienced by the victim is considered mental pain and suffering.  Similar to physical pain and suffering, mental pain and suffering include the psychological effects the victim endured from the accident and any long-term psychological effects they will likely suffer in the future.

The mental form of pain and suffering can take the form of:

• Emotional distress
• fear
• depression
• anxiety
• shock
• and more.

Damages:

You may be wondering how much your case is worth.  Ultimately, it comes down to what the damages are.  Depending on how much your injuries have cost you, is how much money you will receive from the driver who is legally at-fault for the accident.  There are various types of damage in personal injury cases.  Typically, most personal injury damages are classified as compensatory, which intend to compensate the injured party for what was lost as a result of the accident or injury from the accident.  Common compensatory damages involved in personal injury cases are:

• Emotional Distress
• income
• medical treatment
• pain and suffering
• property loss

Contacting a Lawyer:

If you’ve been injured in an accident, it may be time to contact a personal injury lawyer.

An experienced attorney can help you get compensation for things like:

• Medical bills
• lost wages
• pain and suffering
• transportation costs
• rehabilitation
• and more

The Barnes Firm has experienced attorneys in several offices across California.  Our highly trained attorneys are available to answer your questions and assist you with the next steps.  Contact The Barnes Firm today for a free, no-risk consultation.