You are a victim, and you know you are a victim. You have been a good person and paid your insurance for years on end. Now the time has come where you need to claim and all you get is delays, delays and more delays. That is after denials of course.
While many personal injury cases are settled out of court, especially automobile accidents, a person needs to be aware that they can take a lot of time. It can be both frustrating and heartbreaking to have everything you say challenged. Unfortunately that is the way it is.
When you are dealing with insurance companies it is important to have everything in writing. Try to use e-mail or snail mail to communicate. If you need to make phone calls do so, but then back them up with an e-mail restating what was discussed. This helps to avoid any confusion. Always take the name of anyone you speak to on the phone.
You can help your self in several ways though. The most important thing if any kind of personal injury happens to you is to try to get evidence and witnesses. The more witnesses and the more reliable they are the better. Unfortunately this is not always possible. Having photographic evidence is always a major help too. With most people having cameras enabled on their mobile phones these days this shouldn't be too difficult. Write down or take a voice memo of everything possible as well. People's memories can play tricks on them so the more information you have at the time of your (or your friend's) injury can only be a bonus.
Trying to claim for pain and suffering can be particularly frustrating. Insurance companies and courts will both be looking for evidence that you appeared in pain at the time of the injury - and how much pain. With some injuries though, greater pain doesn't set in until later. And how does one judge emotional suffering? In these cases it may well pay to get in touch with a lawyer.
Whether you are planning to lay charges or not it can be a good idea to have a consultation with a lawyer as soon after your injury as possible. No Win No Fee lawyers usually offer this as a free service with no obligation to continue - but do check first.
Perseverance and patience are the key words when trying to get through a personal injury settlement. Lawyers can help and friends and witnesses can help, but sometimes it just feels like you are all on your own. If you and your lawyer really feel you have a case then don't listen to those other voices or the little voice of doubt you may have in your own head. It may seem that everyone is out to try to prove you wrong and a cheat but you know what the truth is so stick with it. The frustration will end eventually and hopefully you will get the compensation you deserve.
Related Legal Information:
Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart, & Shipley Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Tallahassee, Florida