Being involved in an accident on someone else’s property can be a scary experience. If you are severely injured, you may be unable to work and could rack up thousands of dollars’ worth of medical expenses. You may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, but you must pursue a lawsuit to earn it. Here are four things you need to know before you start building a court case.

You Need To Hire an Experienced Lawyer

In an attempt to avoid paying a percentage of your settlement to your lawyer, you may be attempted to try to navigate the legal process on your own and represent yourself in court. This drastically increases the risk of losing your case because a personal injury lawyer knows how to help you get the best settlement. He or she can also help you understand the nuances of your individual case and determine the best course of action for you.

You Have To Prove Negligence

You are not necessarily entitled to compensation just because you were hurt on someone else’s property. To qualify for compensation, you must prove that the incident occurred because the property owner was negligent. If there were proper warning signs about a potential hazard, you won’t win a personal injury lawsuit. You also won’t have a strong case if the hazard was not obvious and the property owner didn’t know about it. Finally, if evidence shows that the accident happened because you were being careless or ignored warning signs, the case will be dismissed.

You Need Evidence for Your Story

Your statement is not enough to build a strong case. To prove the incident was an unfortunate accident that resulted because of the property manager’s negligence, you need evidence to back up your side of the story. Take pictures of the scene to document the conditions of it. If the incident happened outside, document the condition of the sidewalk and ground in addition to any other hazards in the area. If it happened inside, take pictures of the floor and objects in the aisle that could have caused the accident.

You Could End Up With Nothing If You Refuse To Settle

If you choose to pursue a lawsuit, you will likely have two choices; you can either take the settlement offered by the property owner’s insurance company or you can take the case to court in hopes of being awarded more compensation. However, if you refuse the settlement and proceed with the court hearing, you will receive nothing if you lose the case. Your lawyer can help you negotiate the best settlement and help you decide which route to pursue.

Pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is a big decision and there are some things you need to know before you commit to it. These four facts about personal injury lawsuits can help you determine if pursuing on is the right choice for you. If you are still unsure, you can consult with a licensed attorney to discuss the strength of your case.