The days, months, and years after an accident can become very difficult for victims of serious crashes who often have to miss work for an extended period of time resulting in a lack of income.
With or without a source of income, you still have to meet your monthly obligations, such as utility bills, mortgage, and household supplies which can create an extremely stressful situation.
Understanding methods to recover your damages can offer some hope.
Get Medical Attention
Unfortunately, the claims process is not always smooth, especially when it involves massive payouts. Preparing your claim should begin at the accident scene if you hope to maximize your compensation.
After an injury, the most important thing to do is call emergency services. Once they get to the scene, ensure that you are medically examined to establish the extent of your injuries. If the first responders suggest that you go to the ER, you must do as required.
Document the Scene
Emergency services often get to an accident scene a few minutes after a crash. Before they arrive, you can document the scene by taking pictures and video footage which can serve as evidence in court. If your injuries are too severe, you can ask an onlooker to help you. You may also need to collect witness testimonies and contact information.
Involving an injury lawyer immediately after you get into an accident can make a big difference in the outcome of your claim. Besides helping you build a solid case, your legal counsel will coach you on how to avoid hurting your case.
While it is possible to navigate an injury claim alone in a state like South Carolina, it is not advisable. Even after considering the legal fees, you stand a higher chance of recovering fair compensation with a Columbia personal injury lawyer than without one. The best part is you do not pay them until they win your case and you recover your damages. If they lose, you owe them nothing.
The Claims Process
After a lawyer takes your case, they will first gather evidence and notify the at-fault party of your intention to file a claim.
The next step is filing the case, followed by the discovery phase. In this stage, your legal team and that of the at-fault party will exchange every piece of evidence they have. This is the stage where the strength or weakness of a case becomes evident.
The negotiations stage often follows the discovery phase. In this phase, your legal counsel and the opposing side’s legal team will try to reach an agreement. Successful negotiations require giving and taking. If the teams reach a consensus, the court may appoint an independent mediator to help iron contentious issues out and arrange how the at-fault will settle the damages.
If there is no consensus, the case goes to trial, where a jury will give a verdict and make a ruling on how much the at-fault party should pay.
Recoverable Damages
A fair settlement should cover all economic damages resulting from your accident, including medical bills, cost of prescription medicine, lost wages, cost of living aids, and any financial cost resulting from the accident.
It should also cover non-economic damages such as pain and suffering, disfigurement, disability, and loss of life’s enjoyment. Sometimes the court may award punitive damages if your injuries resulted from another person’s wrongful actions or gross negligence.
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If you had a chance to enhance a child’s future with a time commitment of less than 2 hours a week, how would you respond? You have that opportunity right now to join over 200 Alexandrians as a reading tutor volunteer with the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium (ATC).
ATC tutors work with one child in kindergarten, first, or second grade in Alexandria public schools who need extra help with reading. Tutors meet with their Book Buddy 1-2 times each week for 30 minutes October-May at school, during school hours. Many struggling readers only receive one-on-one instruction through this program, and it makes all the difference. Last year, ATC served 195 children, of whom 82% ended the year reading on grade level and 96% made substantial reading gains. But the need is great, and we are still seeing learning lags from the pandemic.
This year, ATC plans to significantly increase the size of the program to reach over 250 students and to serve every elementary school in Alexandria. This is very exciting news, but we will only succeed if we can recruit more tutors. ATC trains you, matches you with a child, and provides ongoing lesson materials and support.
If you have been thinking about buying your first home or haven’t owned one in the last three years, THIS IS FOR YOU!
In the DMV area, it can be difficult to save the downpayment necessary for you to get into your own home. We have a solution. The Funder’s Summit!
We have assembled a summit with different municipalities to tell you how to access their funds for your home purchase.
Family Fun Fall Fest
Mark your calendars and join us for the Family Fun Fall Fest on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 11am – 2pm!
This FREE in-person event will be held at the Shoppes at Foxchase, located at 4641 Duke St, Alexandria, VA
2023 Alexandria Fall Festival
Food trucks, bounce houses, pony rides, magic shows and more at the 2023 Alexandria Fall Festival, an Alexandria Living event presented by The Patterson Group. Join us at River Farm on Sunday, Nov. 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
