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When you begin our personal injury intake process, you should be ready to tell us about your incident. Whether it was a car accident, slip and fall or dog bite, we want to hear the all the details and specifics. Be descriptive but keep the information relevant. This will help us to better assess your claim.
When you’re the victim of an automobile collision, it can have a devastating impact on your life. People experience painful injuries, lifelong physical injuries, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, stress and loss of enjoyment. Additionally, you could have lost a friend or loved one who was in the collision with you.
One factor that can significantly impact your case is a Victim Impact Statement. A VIS is a personally written account of how the collision affected you. Many times, a serious motor vehicle collision can have long-standing consequences. This VIS is an opportunity for you to explain the full extent of your injuries, pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment. For example, a police report may mention that you had a broken leg, but it likely won’t mention other consequences like:
Your VIS is a comprehensive overview of how your life has been changed due to the personal injury and event itself.
How to write your VIS
A VIS for a personal injury doesn’t need to focus on the details of the collision or injury itself. You shouldn’t feel that this is a time to explain what happened an who is at fault. That will be covered in the Facts of Loss portion of your demand letter. The VIS should discuss the physical, mental, emotional, and financial impacts you experienced. Wrapping up the entire experience in a statement can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips to walk you through the process:
Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Your VIS
Do: write in “I feel” and “I believe” statements rather than definitive statements. You should only include what you believe to be true.
Don’t: use this as an opportunity to go over details of the collision and you lay blame on the at-fault party.
Do: express your emotions clearly, add details and paint a mental picture of what you’ve been going through.
Don’t: mention the type of punishment you think or want the at-fault party to receive.
Do: have someone review your VIS for proper spelling and grammar.
Don’t: swear in your VIS; it can cause the insurance company to see you in a negative light.
Do: included related paperwork (i.e. receipts) that help verify your VIS.
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