Should I Handle My Own Personal Injury Claim?

Getting hurt in an accident is never fun. It can feel like your whole life has been turned upside down. You have to deal with doctors, bills, and a lot of worry. One of the biggest worries is figuring out how to get the money you need to pay for everything, especially if someone else caused the accident.

You might be thinking, “Can I handle my own personal injury claim?” Lots of people try. The insurance company knows that you are not a trial lawyer, so you won’t know how to properly file a lawsuit. While this can negatively affect your ability to negotiate fair value, we made a guide to help you understand what the process looks like, so you can decide if handling your own injury claim is the smartest course of action for you.

Step 1: The First Steps After the Accident

Right after an accident, the world can feel a little fuzzy. But there are a few important things you should try to do if you can.

• Get Medical Help: The very first thing to do is see a doctor.1 Don’t wait. Getting medical care right away is important for your health, and it also creates an official record of your injuries.
• Gather Your “Proof”: If you can, take pictures of the scene of the accident, the damage to the car or accident scene, and your injuries. These pictures are like pieces of a puzzle that help show what happened.
• Report the Accident: Depending on the type of accident, you may need to file an official report. For example, if you were in a car accident with serious damage or injuries, you might need to file a crash report.

After these first steps, you will need to notify the insurance company or business. It is important to only give them the basic facts of what happened and that you are injured, not what you think caused the accident.

Step 2: Gathering Your “Proof”

A personal injury claim is all about showing how the accident hurt you. To do this, you have to collect a lot of paperwork. This is a very big part of handling your own claim. You will need to gather things like:

• Medical Records and Bills: This includes every single bill and record from the hospital, your doctors, and physical therapy. You need to show all the care you received and how much it cost.
• Proof of Lost Wages: If you missed work, you need to show how much money you lost. This means gathering paystubs and maybe a note from your doctor saying you couldn’t work.
• Official Reports: You will need a copy of the informe policial or any other official reports about the accident.

This “proof” is the foundation of your claim. Without it, you can’t show the insurance company why you deserve to be paid for your injuries and losses.

Step 3: Important Rules to Know in Tennessee

Tennessee has a few rules that are good to know. They can be a little tricky, and it’s important to understand them so you don’t lose your chance to get paid.

• The One-Year Deadline: In Tennessee, you have one year from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit in court. This is called the “statute of limitations”.2 If you miss this deadline, you will most likely lose your right to get any money, no matter how good your case is. One exception to this rule is if someone injured is under 18 years old, they may have a different timeline.
• The “Comparative Negligencia” Rule: This rule says that if you were even a little bit at fault for your own accident, the amount of money you get can be reduced.2 If a jury decides you were 10% responsible, you would only get 90% of your total damages. But here is the most important part: if they decide you were 50% or more at fault, you will get no money.2

Step 4: Talking to the Insurance Adjuster

Once you have your “proof,” you will need to talk to the insurance company’s adjuster. It is important to remember that the adjuster works for the insurance company, and their main goal is to pay you the least amount of money possible.

The adjuster might seem friendly and tell you they are just trying to help, but you need to be very careful what you say. They might try to get you to give a recorded statement. They might also offer you a small amount of money very quickly in exchange for you signing away your right to ask for more later. Insurance companies often start with a very low offer, which is called a “lowball” offer. They are counting on you being stressed and needing the money quickly so you will just accept it.

This is a negotiation. You can say no to their first offer. You can make a counteroffer in writing and explain why you think your claim is worth more, using all the “proof” you have gathered.

Step 5: What is Your Claim Worth?

Your claim’s value is more than just your facturas médicas and lost wages. It also includes what lawyers call “non-economic damages,” which is money for your pain and suffering. A claim’s value is subjective. That’s why a jury decides what your claim is worth at trial.

Without filing a lawsuit, your claim may not be worth as much. But one way some people use is the “multiplier” method. You add up all of your economic costs (bills, lost wages) and then multiply that number by a number between 1 and 5. The number you pick depends on how badly you were hurt. For a minor injury, you might use a 1 or 2. For a very serious, life-changing injury, you might use a 4 or 5.

You need to be able to prove your pain and suffering. Keeping a daily journal of your pain levels, how your injuries stop you from doing things you love, and any changes to your mood or sleep can help.

What’s the Right Path for You?

Handling your own claim can be a big project. It means dealing with piles of paperwork, understanding complicated legal rules, and negotiating with trained professionals who do this every day. It can be a full-time job at a time when you should be focusing on getting better.

There is another path. You can choose to have a legal expert handle everything for you. A personal injury lawyer is on your side. They can guide you through the process, fight for the money you deserve, and let you focus on what really matters: your recovery.

If you have questions about your injury and want to explore all your options, we are here to help. Contacta con nosotros hoy para una consulta gratuita.

Works Cited

1. Guide to Handling Personal Injury Cases | Bring a Claim, accessed September 22, 2025, https://www.dplaw.com/blog/guide-to-handling-personal-injury-cases/
2. Tennessee Personal Injury Laws and Deadlines to File a Case – Nolo, accessed September 22, 2025, https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-is-the-personal-injury-statute-of-limitations-in-tennessee.html