If you went to a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park or other stadiums around the country during the last season, you may have noticed that the net protecting you from being hit by a foul ball is larger than it used to be.

Stadiums across the country are expanding these nets in response to numerous people who have been struck by foul balls, and these decisions are a good reminder that personal injury claims can prompt more than financial rewards.

It's about more than money

Filing a personal injury claim after a serious accident is crucial for a few reasons. In the context of being hit by a foul ball at a baseball game, consider the fact that the damage done can be extensive. You might require emergency care and multiple surgeries; you could be left with permanent scarring; the emotional trauma of such an event can have a massive impact on your well-being and relationships.

These are not insignificant damages, and they should not be dismissed as such. In other words, while a personal injury claim can lead to compensation, it also gives people the opportunity to have the full extent of their damages acknowledged.

Prompting action

Your injuries can be even more upsetting when you realize that they could have been prevented. Filing a personal injury claim can publicize certain conditions that put people at risk.

When people take legal action and call out unsafe conditions, parties may take steps to fix unsafe situations and prevent future accidents.

For instance, a toddler was recently hit by a foul ball at a Yankee game. The incident made national headlines and the father urged the team to take action, as this type of accident had happened before. Recently, the team announced they will follow in the steps of other stadiums and will "significantly expand" netting inside the stadium.

Before you dismiss your options for compensation or assume there is little to gain from filing a personal injury claim, you might consider discussing your options with an attorney. There may be benefits and remedies available that you had not considered, and the impact of filing a claim could be more significant than you realize.