If you have been injured by the fault of another, such as in a car accident, there are important steps to follow to ensure that you are treated fairly by big insurance and receive the compensation you deserve.

1. Document Your Injury!

The most important step you can take in order to obtain full compensation is to fully and completely document your injury. If your injury is not corroborated by someone else then not only will the insurance company act as if it never happened, but you may not be able to adequately prove your case to a jury if nesessary.

This documentation concerns two elements: [a] fault of the party causing the event and [b] proof of the cause of your injury.

2. Have a Report Made Immediately

If your case involves a traffic accident it is imperative that you call the police so a report can be made of the circumstances of the car accident. Do not move your car until the police arrive. By verifying the position of the vehicles the police officer can aid in documenting fault.

If your injury was caused by slipping on a foreign substance in a store, you want to immediatley have a manager take your information and have an ambulance called if your injurires are significant

3. Seek Competent Medical Attention

If you feel any pain or stiffness at all you should go to the hospital emergency room as soon as possible {preferably have an ambulance take you from the scene to the hospital}. This ensures early documentation of your injury and the early intervention hopefully will aid the healing process.

If your injury persists you should, within the next several days, follow up with your family doctor and seek early referral to a specialist that treats your type of injury. An orthopedic specialist is ordinarily the most competent doctor to treat your injury if it involves neck, back or extremity injury. The doctor will also be able to write a report explaining the nature and cause of your injury and testify in court if necessary.

4. Follow Your Doctor's Advice

You should follow your doctor's advice regarding the treatment necessary for your injury. The insurance company will not take you seriously if you do not follow doctor's orders. They will infer that you must not be very injured if you do not do what is necessary to try to get better.

5. Hire An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Insurance companies are in business to take in premiums and pay out as little as possible on claims. You will be dealing with an experienced adjustor whose job is to do just that. Therefore, if you want to get the best result, you need someone on your side whose job is to get you full and fair compensation and is experienced in doing so. You can obtain the services of a lawyer on a contingency fee basis. This means that their fee depends on how much they recover for you.

Following these five steps will help ensure that you obtain the full and complete recovery you deserve.