After your car accident, you’re going to experience significant damages. Financially speaking, you’ll likely incur overwhelming medical expenses, and your inability to work will leave you without the income that you’ve come to rely upon. Also, these financial constraints can continue for the foreseeable future given that your recovery can take quite a while.
You’ll also be subjected to noneconomic damages. These losses are those that aren’t easily calculable, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and disfigurement. To find closure and secure the financial stability you need during your car accident recovery, you’ll want to seek compensation for all your damages, which can be easier said than done.
Tips for maximizing the recovery of your car accident damages
If you want to get as much as you can out of your legal claim, then you need to be thorough and aggressive in building your case. This means doing each of the following, which will help you illustrate to the judge and jury just how devastating your accident has been on your life:
- Seek immediate treatment when needed: After a car accident, you need to seek medical care for the harm that’s been caused to you. That might sound obvious, but far too often car accident victims forego treatment when new symptoms crop up days or even weeks after their wreck. Don’t hesitate to seek care if you start experiencing symptoms. If you don’t seek out care, then it’s going to be hard for you to argue the full extent of your injuries.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations: If your doctor recommends additional testing or treatment, then you should follow up as requested. If you don’t stick to those recommendations, then you’ll be limited in your ability to show your damages, and it’ll be hard to argue that the medical expenses you’re claiming are necessary.
- Keep track of all expenses: Retaining your medical bills and pay stubs can help you show a large portion of your losses, but you can’t overlook smaller expenses that can quickly add up. These include bills tied to medications, medical equipment like crutches or a wheelchair, and any fees incurred for transportation. Keep all receipts and invoices somewhere easily accessible and be diligent about gathering these records.
- Keep a journal: Noneconomic losses are sometimes hard to prove given their nebulous nature. But you can make your damages here more concrete by painting a picture for the judge and jury showing how you’ve been negatively impacted by your accident injuries. Keeping a daily journal where you detail your limitations and your feelings can be powerful here.
- Utilize expert testimony: Because some of your damages are going to be forward-looking, such as anticipated medical expenses and expected lost wages, you may need expert testimony to justify your request. Make sure you pick trustworthy and likeable experts who will portray themselves well to the jury.
Be ready to fight for the compensation you deserve
You need and deserve compensation after your car accident. But you’re going to have to fight for a just outcome. That’s why now is the time to start gathering persuasive evidence that speaks to both liability and damages.
We know that you have a lot to deal with right now as you focus on your recovery. This can make taking legal action daunting, but you don’t want to skimp on your case. Instead, do what you can to build a robust case, which in turn will give you confidence that you’ve done everything you can to protect your future and the viability of your recovery.
