5 Tips to a Successful Bodily Injury Claim

If you are injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you deserve to be compensated. Bodily injury claims, also known as personal injury claims, are the most common of all accident-related claims.

Any bodily injury claim you file will have to be adequately supported by evidence. Otherwise, your insurance company will not hesitate to look for loopholes in your claim, in an attempt to escape liability.

These are some tips to help you file a successful bodily injury claim:

1. Have your injury recorded. The only legitimate record of your injury will be the report prepared by the doctor after he has examined you. This medical report is the most important document that will be required for filing a bodily injury claim. A visit to the doctor as soon as possible after an accident is important, even if you think your injury is not critical.

2. Get a medical leave certificate. Request your doctor to give you a certificate to exempt your absence from work on medical grounds. Such a certificate will be evidence that you were unfit enough, in the eyes of your doctor, to attend office. Because it will act as additional proof of the extent of your injury, a medical leave certificate will be an advantage while filing a bodily injury claim.

3. Get a specialist's opinion. In case of a whiplash injury, you may not experience the effects of the injury until a few days after the accident. If you are unsure, ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist. A specialist's report will add weight to your bodily injury claim.

4. Follow up on the treatment. It is important that you are regular with the follow-up treatment of your injury. This specifically refers to keeping with the doctor's or therapist's appointments as scheduled. If you can prove that you followed the doctor's instructions properly, the insurance company will have no option but to honour your claim.

5. Keep detailed records. Maintain a medical diary with details of every step and procedure of your treatment. This way you will be able to provide answers to any questions posed by the insurance company.