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Claim It, It's Your Right

BY Stephen Ozcomert | 08-10-2009 | 1:31 PM
This blog is written by a member of our blogging community and expresses that member's views alone.
The reasons range from knowing the insurance company will settle; to they don't want the legal hassles and expense.

Many people choose not to pursue an accident claim. The reasons
range from knowing the insurance company will settle; to they don't
want the legal hassles and expense.

The bottom line is that putting in a claim for compensation for
personal injuries after an accident is pretty much an accepted right in
the U.S. "While it may take some work to get the compensation for
damages, it may well be worth it in the long-term, particularly if
serious injuries have been sustained and a person's life has been
significantly altered because of it," commented Stephen Ozcomert, an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

"Keep in mind that even though an insurance company may settle on a
claim without anyone having to do too much to get it done, the
settlement is generally much lower than it could be if the case were
taken to court," explained Ozcomert. This is why most lawyers will
advise their clients not to take the first settlement offer that comes
along. Insurance companies want to accomplish one thing, closing the
case and spending as little as they can to accomplish it.

Most accident claims do require some work to obtain compensation,
but if the injuries are serious enough, the work will be well worth it.
The first thing an attorney will need to do is be able to prove that
the other person in the accident was the party "at fault." Use a cell
phone at the scene of the accident, if need be, to get clear pictures
of the damage. They may come in handy in court.

Remember to get all the information needed from any eyewitnesses,
report the accident to the police, and also get a copy of the accident
report. Don't assume there are no serious injuries, as many of them may
be silent and not manifest themselves until a later time with drastic
consequences. If an ambulance is needed, call one immediately and then
contact an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

While the accident may have been partially the fault of both drivers
involved, the party laying the claim for compensation may still claim
and receive some damages. "The proportion or percentage of negligence
in cases where both drivers are at fault is usually determined by the
courts using the doctrine of contributory negligence. That may mean
compensation won't be 100%, but instead a proportion thereof,"
explained Stephen Ozcomert, an Atlanta personal injury attorney.

There a great many other details that go into mounting a personal
injury claim, so ensure the lawyer hired is big on aggressive
representation for their clients to obtain justice.

To learn more about Atlanta personal injury lawyer, Stephen M. Ozcomert or Atlanta personal injury, Atlanta personal injury lawyer, Atlanta personal injury attorney, visit Ozcomert.com.