If you have recently been in an accident of some sort you might be contemplating a personal injury lawsuit. A lawsuit may be the best option in some cases, but there are other things that you can do first to resolve the matter without taking it to court. For example, here are a couple things that you should do before you file a personal injury lawsuit.

1. File A Claim With The Insurance Company

In many cases people file lawsuits against their insurance company. There are times when the insurance company won't pay out what the injury was worth, or deny a claim altogether. However, there are other instances where the insurance company is very reasonable and will help to defray the costs of the accident. For this reason, you should always approach the insurance company first. Try to work out all of the issues on your own. If the company is being unreasonable, then you can take matters to an attorney. If not, you just saved yourself a lot of time and money.

2. Mediate With The Other Party

In other cases, you will sue a private citizen or company. If this is the situation for you, you might be able to work it out on your own. For example, you should take your evidence and complaints to the other party. Don't do so in a threatening matter, instead show them that you think that they caused the accident. Then offer a reasonable settlement between the two of you for the damages. In many cases the other party will want to avoid a lawsuit that they will work it out with you.

3. Get Liability Insurance

In some cases you will need to file a lawsuit against another individual. However, in other cases you may be at fault and another person will try to sue you. Luckily, you can still protect yourself. One of the best things you can do is opt for liability insurance. You can get this insurance when you insure your home or car. This insurance will cover costs if you accidentally injury someone while on your property or while driving a car. Then if you are sued, or a claim is filed against you, you can draw from your insurance policy to cover the costs. This could save you from bankruptcy if you have a large claim filed against you.

By understanding how to protect yourself and resolve a potential personal injury lawsuit you can save yourself stress, money and time. 

To learn more, contact a law firm like Modesitt Law Offices PC.