3 Insider Secrets to Avoid Delaying Your Injury Claim

3 Insider Secrets to Avoid Delaying Your Injury Claim

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1.) Factors that Impact the Value of a Personal Injury Case

 When someone comes into our Buffalo office asking about the value of an injury case, we tell them that two things have the most impact on their case. First, how did the accident happen and who’s at fault? Second, what is the nature and extent of the injury? We will fully work up each case by listening to what our client has to share about how the accident happened and then reviewing investigative reports and accident reports. Next, we revisit the client’s description of the accident with emphasis on the injury and how it’s affected their daily life, including the ability to work, play sports, recreate, or simply pursue normal activities. We can then give you a very, very good estimate of the value of your case. Very often, an insurance company will make an extremely low offer right off the bat; however, when you come to an experienced personal injury attorney such as myself or other members of my firm, we can give you a clear picture of what your case is worth.

Summary:

  • When someone asks about the value of an injury case, we tell them certain factors will impact their case.
  • How did the accident happen, who was at fault, and what is the nature and extent of your injury?
  • We will work up a case based on what our client shares as well as review of investigative reports and accident reports.
  • We evaluate the injury and how it impacts the client’s daily life vis a vis ability to work, play sports, recreate, or simply pursue normal activities and estimate the case’s value.
  • Insurance companies often make extremely low initial offers; however, an experienced personal injury attorney can create a clear picture of what your case is worth.

2.) Filing a Claim if You did Not Get Immediate Medical Care

 A lot of people who come into our Buffalo office tell us they were involved in a car accident some time ago and, although they didn’t go to the hospital or seek medical treatment right away, they’re now having problems. We assure them that, even if they didn’t go to the hospital right away or get immediate medical treatment, they can still pursue a personal injury claim. Actually, the normal reaction for a person who’s been involved in a motor vehicle accident but is not experiencing tremendous pain right then is to say, “You know, I think I’m going to be okay. I’m a little sore. I’m going to go home and see how this goes.” A lot of people take a wait-and-see approach. Sometimes, later, after some time passes, they realize they actually do have some medical problems. That’s when they first seek medical treatment. Many of our cases have started that way. We’ve had a lot of success representing people who didn’t go to the hospital or get immediate medical care. Certainly, you have the right to bring a claim if you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, even though you chose not to go to the hospital or see a doctor to treat your injuries immediately following your accident.

Summary:

  • Some people tell us they were involved in a car accident some time ago and didn’t go to the hospital or seek immediate medical treatment. Now they’re having problems.
  • We assure them that they can still pursue a personal injury claim because people often take a wait-and-see approach and realize they have some medical problems later on. Then, they seek their first medical treatment.
  • You have the right to bring a claim if you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, even though you did not seek immediate treatment for your injuries.

3.) Pre Existing Conditions

 So often, we have clients who come in to see us after they’ve been injured in a car accident and tell us that they injured that same part of their body several years ago. That occurs in many, many of our cases. One thing that’s very important – and one that we, as personal injury attorneys, are very familiar with – is the ability to segregate the part of your injury that is due to your current accident from anything that’s attributable to a preexisting condition. The simple fact that you have a preexisting condition doesn’t mean that it was aggravated by your current accident. You could have hurt your arm or neck 10 or 15 years ago and, while you may have a preexisting condition, it may not have bothered you for those 10 or 15 years. It’s very important to work with a lawyer who’s handled this type of case and can distinguish between the types of injuries which are actually affected by a preexisting condition and those that are not.

Summary:

  • We have many clients who have been injured in car accidents and say they injured the same part of their body several years ago.
  • We are able to segregate the part of your injury that is due to a current accident from that attributable to a preexisting condition.
  • A preexisting condition is not necessarily aggravated by your current accident.
  • It’s very important to work with a lawyer experienced in this type of case who can distinguish between injuries affected by a preexisting condition and those that are not.

Have you been involved in a personal injury accident and need help with your case?  Contact one of our dedicated Injury Attorneys in Buffalo, NY to fight for your recovery.

This educational legal blog was brought to you by Michael Ranzenhofer, an experienced Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer.

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