If you've been hurt in a wreck, you might need to take some action beyond getting medical attention. Seeing to your health is vital, but taking some time to consider the impact the accident will have your finances and your life, in general, may prompt you to file a claim for compensation. You can be paid money damages if the other party was at fault in any way, and this is money that you will need more acutely as time passes. It can be incredibly confusing to deal with healing from an accident and dealing with a lawsuit, so read on to learn what should be a priority in the early days.

Get some professional legal help: If you believe that the at-fault driver's insurance company is going to offer you a fair and adequate settlement, you are in for a surprise. Insurance companies will pay as little as possible and you are likely entitled to so much more. Speak to a personal injury attorney and allow a professional to evaluate your case.

Gather some information: Staying organized during this time is so important; you want to be able to access records and documents easily and quickly. An expandable file folder offers a convenient all-in-one solution for keeping up with the myriad of paperwork that is sure to arrive at your home in no time after the accident. Your attorney will need to see copies of the items listed below to get started on your case:

• Insurance (auto) information for you and the other parties involved.
• Contact information for all parties.
• The police or accident report.
• Eyewitness contact information.
• A record of your medical treatment so far and the dollar amount expensed to insurance.
• A pay stub or most recent tax return for your job.
• A summary of all time missed from work, even if you used paid time-off.
• Car replacement or damage estimates.
• Mileage between your home and medical facilities and the pharmacy, including any public transportation used.

Understand what you are entitled to be paid: Your attorney will use the information provided to make a decision about representing you and about how much you may be able to get in money damages. In most cases, your attorney needs to know the chances of success and the value of the claim before agreeing to represent you, given that most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis.

You may be surprised to learn that a calculation is used to determine a potential settlement amount and that the primary starting point for this calculation is based on the dollar amount of your medical expenses. It turns out that this figure is an excellent indicator of what you are owed for pain and suffering.

Taking just a few actions can get your claim started, and the sooner you get started the sooner you can reap the compensation you deserve. Speak to a personal injury law professional right away.