Preparing for a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Alaska: Five Valuable Tips

Personal injury claims or lawsuits often follow an accident in Alaska—and that is for good reason. First off, the injury sustained in the accident often leaves victims in a tremendous mental toil. Besides that, hospital visits and doctor consultations can quickly lead to hefty medical bills. That is not to mention the loss of wages from being unable to go to work, adding to the financial stress.

This post contains tips to help you prepare for a personal injury lawsuit. You may wonder why you need this guide since you are not planning to be in an accident. However, nobody ever plans it, and that is why being prepared is essential to ensure you take the right steps.

Consult a Good Lawyer

The first thing to do is to consult a good personal injury attorney or law firm in Alaska. You may wonder at the necessity of retaining legal representation, but you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. The consultation will be free, and most lawyers handle these cases on contingencies, meaning you will pay after you have been paid. 

Be Slow in Talking

When you have been in an accident, your mind may be scattered, and you are most likely disoriented. In this state of mind, it can be easy to utter things you should not—like admitting fault. For example, you could reply that you are fine and do not think you were injured in the accident.

Neither of these two statements will do your case any good; the other party could even use it against you. Therefore, when talking to officers and answering questions, stick to the basics and do not speculate. 

Get Prompt Treatment

Contrary to popular belief, injuries are not always apparent immediately after an accident occurs. More often than not, you may not realize the severity of the injury until days or even weeks after. Therefore, even if you feel fine, you ought to see a doctor and get treatment immediately after the accident.

More so, there has been an accident, and you cannot truly know you are okay unless a doctor certifies your health. Prompt treatment after an accident not only ensures your well-being but also helps establish the basis for the compensation you are seeking. Otherwise, insurance companies will deny responsibility, arguing that your state of health was not caused by the accident.

Get Concrete Evidence

It is not enough to simply state that someone caused you harm through negligence; you must show solid proof. This includes documentation to show how the accident caused your injuries and how the injuries have impacted your life.

While you can get some of these records after the fact, keeping track of the documents as they come is easier. On the other hand, you cannot recreate some documentation; you have to get it from a third party directly. Pieces of evidence that can serve as proof in a personal injury case include:

• Pictures and videos of the accident
• Insurance forms
• Witness statements
• Medical records 
• Medical bills
• Police reports, among others

Do Not Settle Unless You Are Settled

The majority of personal injury cases in Alaska get settled out of court as insurance companies offer an amount to avoid trial. One important reason for having a lawyer is that they can help determine what amount is truly fair, considering how much you have suffered. “Many people sign agreements containing unfair settlements and harsh clauses because they do not have a lawyer that can help them review the agreement,” says attorney Daniel Libbey of Libbey Law Offices.

Conclusion

Personal injury attorneys work in the best interests of their clients; therefore, do not hesitate to ask questions when you have them. Furthermore, always keep them in the loop of any new development—for example, if there are complications from the accident.