When an accident happens, there is a lot of emotional and physical trauma that a perosn has to deal with. It changes the life of an individual in unprecedented ways, especially if the injuries were permanent or left a permanent mark. The psychological responses may also become affected by the physical trauma experienced.
It is very important to seek recompense for something adverse that happened when it was not your fault. Seeking recompense happens through a formal channel in a legally binding manner. It is possible to seek reparations by serving the party responsible. Legal serve is based on the assumption that the injuries you suffered were due to the negligence of someone else.
When something like that happens, you can file for a personal injury claim and would be well within your rights to do so. In this article, we will deal with important questions related to filing a personal injury claim. The most important question will also be answered which relates to a person filing it themselves without the help of an attorney.
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Can You Do It Yourself?
Legally, every citizen is within their rights to sue someone else over negligence that resulted in serious injury. It is also possible to represent yourself if you so feel like. The paperwork, documentation and hearing will all be on yoru shoulders and you would have to tackle the legalese if you are planning on filing a claim without the help of an attorney. A good aspect of doing it yourself is that you are the one most familiar with your case and hence can represent yourself better.
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On the other hand, if you do not know the legal regulations and how the system works, you might be looking at long nights trying to figure out how everything works. It can lead to serious mistakes which can cost you your precious time and money. You cannot afford to make errors that can cause problems with your case and damage it irreparably. Ask anyone and they would advise you to take some help especially if you are not from a law background.
Even though it is possible to sue someone without needing a lawyer, there are many ways in which getting an attorney on your side will strengthen your case. They will not only smooth out all the wrinkles in your case but will also give you valuable advice that can help you as the proceedings begin. There are different types of personal injuries and getting an attorney for any of them would mean aiming for specialization and experience. Check this site if you would like to contact a car accident lawyer for legal representation or consultation in Boulder.
What Are the Injuries That Qualify for thr Claim?
There is a list of injuries that qualify for a legal claim and it is recommended to go through them once before going ahead with the suing. Usually, lawyers help you out with the terms of the claim depending on the severity of the impact of the accident. But in case you want to do it yourself, here is everything that can qualify you for suing:
- Extensive scarring which leads to a complete change in appearance as compared to before. Disfigurement will also be eligible for compensation.
- Dismemberment
- Losing a limb or an organ will also call for a personal injury claim. Since the restrict the right of an individual to live an unhampered life, they can be compensated for.
- Loss of an important bodily function can also change life for the adverse and hence a claim is acceptable.
- In case of death, the next of kin can file on the behalf of the deceased.
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Even though these are the most common areas, there is no hard and fast rule that classifies whether the extent of your damage will be liable for a monetary recompense. Nevertheless, it is important to have all the medical records to show the complete trajectory of the harm and how it may have impacted your daily life.
What is the Compensation You Can Get?
By the end of the day, you are doing all of this effort for monetary compensation. It is important to keep your mind clear about what you want out of the claim if and when the court rules in your favour. Even in the case of a settlement, it is a good idea to have a general idea of what you would want out of this entire ordeal.
Luckily, you can read about similar cases and find out what other individuals got for claims similar to yours. If you have decided to work on your own, collecting relevant references will do you good, especially when it comes to making a decision about the kind of monetary recompense you need. Here is a small list of three types of compensation that you are entitled for when your settle of win the case:
- Economic Damages: When we talk of economic damages, it will strictly include the monetary recompense that a person is entitled for. It includes the totality of what a person had to pay for their treatment and for the damage to their personal property. It includes medical bills, repair to personal property, all the lost earning potential due to sick days which had to be taken because of the serious injury. All of these factors can be proven based on the documentation provided.
- Non-economic Damages: The non-economic damages relate to all the pain and suffering that a person went through in terms of psychological trauma and lasting effects of Injuries from the accident.
- Punitive Damages: Punitive compensation is only given if the court rules in your favour. Rather than providing recompense, these damages are strictly meant to punish the other party.
The Takeaway
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It is important to know the extent to which you can claim damages and recompense so that you have a strong case at your disposal if you are doing it alone.
