Protecting Your Injury Claim & Fair Compensation Settlement

Insurance companies don't readily give you fair compensation - you have to prove your claim. There are simple things that you can do to protect your rights and fair compensation for your injuries. If you have just been injured in a car accident, here is an action list of what to do.

After a car accident, you should try to write down what happened as you will forget details later on.

Write down as much detail as you can - you could even record yourself if you feel more comfortable speaking than writing. Later on, if the insurance company tries to fight your claim, it will be helpful to have this to back up your memory.

Keep a record of your pain from your injuries and try to explain how you are feeling to your doctors.

Be careful of being vague and just telling your doctor and nurse what you think they like to hear - that you are feeling pretty good, when in reality, you've had difficulty sleeping through the night because of pain. It can help you to write down your pain as you are experiencing it and take that journal to your appointments as then when you are being friendly and social with your health care providers, you will have that to help your memory and help you explain what has really been going on. In addition, once you are fully recovered, you can forget that long healing process when it seemed like it was taking forever for you to recover and as you experienced all kinds of different pain symptoms.

Follow your doctor's orders.

If you do not, the at-fault-driver's insurance company will very likely use your medical records and find facts that you didn't follow your doctor's orders and that you are partially to blame for your pain and recovery. The better of a patient you are, the better it is for you and your claim for compensation. Be kind and respectful to your doctor and be prompt and never miss an appointment. Everything will be logged in your medical records and you need your doctor on your side not resenting you as a patient that didn't show up for appointments, was rude to staff, and didn't follow through on recommendations for therapy, or other suggested treatments.

Take advantage of the offer for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.

Probably one of the easiest ways and the quickest is to call and get a free consultation with a personal injury attorney. Within a few minutes you can get a good first impression of an attorney's take on your case. Most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations and not any of them will see your case exactly the same, but you can get a good feeling of what you think, and you can also decide whether you need or want an attorney. Maybe you will feel like you don't need an attorney, but it is still worth your time to just give a call.

An attorney can help by giving you a second opinion on a settlement offer from the insurance company for your claim. Only you or a jury can really decide what is fair compensation for your claim.

However if you have suffered a serious injury, it is definitely best for your future to take your time and take advantage of the free consultations with personal injury attorneys that top your list.

After a serious accident and serious injury, you will have a lot on your hands. You will need to get all of your information and documentation about your auto accident, your medical bills, your accident report, witnesses and their contact information, and get better.

Your personal injury lawyer will help you to understand what types of evidence is needed for your case.

Your auto accident injuries will require your medical records to prove your case. Your medical records will explain and document your treatments and recovery.

Your medical records will also have associated bills to your medical providers, even your ambulance bill, in addition to all your car's repair bills such as repair shop, mechanic, or other damage evidence or complete total loss.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

It is helpful in telling your story of your injury and your pain and suffering and work through your recovery by taking pictures. In your situation, a picture can also help your memory be clearer once you are better and ready to put the experience in the past.

Photographs are helpful if they show your injury, bruising, stitches, casts, or the limitation of your movements. You can also chronicle your recovery; usually cameras have an associated date, and this will also help you remember the length of time you spent recovering.

Also take pictures of anything that was also damaged in your accident; maybe you were carrying other items in your vehicle that you lost, maybe you have pictures of your car and the other car at the scene of your accident. Often, witnesses can be helpful with these types of photos.

Document your time off from work.

You may have the best understanding employer, but your unexpected time off from work will no doubt impact your life.

Keep your employment records as proof of your wage loss and time off.

It is easiest to know that you may need this documentation, and gather what you can when you are experiencing this phase of your recovery.

Once you are back at work, you may still have an impact on your work because you need to go to therapy and doctor appointments frequently during normal work hours. You may then either not be able to get in your full time hours or you are having to work longer days while you are also trying to heal. You need to keep a log of these aspects of your recovery as it is important to proving your case and getting compensation that will truly make you whole.


An Oregon personal injury attorney who teaches other lawyers how to better fight for their clients.

Member Oregon Trial Lawyer Association, Mike
Co-Chaired of Motor Vehicle Accident Committee:

I believe that I have a duty to help young and inexperienced lawyers better serve their clients. I have served as co-chairperson of the Oregon Trial Lawyers motor vehicle section. What this means is that I put on classes to teach other lawyers how to better serve injured Oregonians. I do not get paid for teaching and putting on these classes. I do it because it is the right thing to do and I want to try and help other lawyers do a better job in helping their clients. I also put on these classes as they help me stay on the cutting edge in new trial tactics and changing laws.