If you have been injured in an accident, you’ll probably want to settle your claim. However, that’s not always straightforward, and at Phillips and McCrea, Attorneys at Law PLLC, we understand that obtaining compensation can be a stressful and laborious task, but you can pursue compensation for your injuries and losses quickly and easily with a bit of preparation.
As experts in personal injury and family law, we’ve created a handy checklist to help you settle for your claim quickly and with as little stress as possible. Follow our checklist to prepare the necessary documents that you will need when seeking a personal injury consultation to file a claim. With all your documents in order, the appropriate steps can be quickly taken to settle your claims so that you can get back to the other important things in life.
1. First and foremost, you will need an accident or incident report. This is usually created by a law enforcement agency or a company. It often lists many of the pertinent details of an injury-causing accident or incident.
2. Next is a copy of the insurance policy with the declaration page. It is essential to be able to determine the types and amounts of coverage available.
3. Collect all accident or incident-related medical records and bills, and discharge documents.
4. Keep on hand photographic images and video footage of the accident location, vehicles or equipment involved, and injuries sustained.
5. Acquire the contact information for all persons involved and all witnesses.
6. Record the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for all medical facilities and providers where accident-related treatment was provided.
7. Get together your Insurance Adjuster Contact information, including claim number.
8. Compile all correspondence, letters, emails, insurance forms, or other documents regarding the collision.
9. Look for newspaper articles or news videos discussing your accident (if you do not have these but know they exist, please notify us of where we can obtain those).
10. Acquire and preserve a Final Damage Bill if your vehicle has been repaired, or get the damage estimate if your car has not yet been repaired.
11. Request for time and earnings loss statements from doctors and or your place of employment.
12. Pay stubs from before and after the accident are the best indicators of pay loss and the records of time missed at work. Make sure you have the right ones that show the difference in pay before and after the accident.
13. Get an explanation of benefit printouts from a health insurance company.
14. Make sure you have either health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid Card.
15. Keep on hand prescription bottles, receipts, or other medical instructions.
16. Maintain a copy of the Independent Medical Examination (IME) if one has been performed.
17. Make a note of casts, splints, or braces (neck or back) that you have used for the injuries, if no longer necessary.
18. Keep the equipment (bicycle helmet or damaged bicycle parts) or clothing if damaged in the collision.
19. Put together your favorite pictures of yourself or yourself with friends and family before injuries. These pictures should be conservative.
20. Gather any other relevant information or documentation.
If you have any concerns about the claim or you’re looking for help to simplify the process, reach out to personal injury and family law attorneys serving at Phillips and McCrea, Attorneys at Law PLLC for all your legal needs in Charlotte, NC. We are an injury and family law firm committed to treating our clients with the utmost respect and providing them with the highest quality legal service. Our primary practice areas include Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Workers Compensation, and Family Law.
To learn more about our services, please click here. If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us here.