It is important to adhere to the following steps after you have suffered personal injuries.
1. TALK TO NO ONE
Do not talk to anyone about your accident except one of the lawyers or representatives of our office or the law firm that we have obtained for you. Do not even talk to your own insurance company or any lawyers hired by your own insurance company without notifying us so that we may be present if we wish. Generally, your attorney will want any statements taken in their office. Remember you may unknowingly hurt your case by statements you make without your lawyer's assistance.
2. YOUR DOCTOR
You should return to each of your doctors as often as necessary and tell them all of your complaints. You should not minimize your ailments to your doctors, as it is one of the best ways for them to know how to treat you and because the doctors will keep a record of your complaints. It is important that you not cancel scheduled appointments with your doctor due to the fact that it can later be construed to mean that you were really not in that much pain or in need of medical care. If you see any additional doctors, be sure you advise your attorney immediately of their names and addresses. Please keep a detailed list of each and every appointment and the amount of each such bill.
3. INSURANCE POLICIES
It is important that you provide your attorney with complete copies of all insurance policies, including the declaration pages, in effect on the date of the accident and also the policy and declaration pages of all automobile polices of any relative living with you, to ensure you obtain all coverage and benefits available. Additional benefits may be available to you which is why your attorney will want to see your insurance documentation including your health insurance policies.
4. PAYMENT OF BILLS
You should submit all medical bills to your motor vehicle insurance carrier (if there is med pay coverage) and then to your health insurance carrier. You must also send copies of all of your bills, including prescription charges, to your attorney.
5. RECORD OF COMPLAINTS
Please keep a daily diary which records your complaints and progress which should include problems you have encountered (sleepless nights, inability to perform certain activities, doctor visits, dates you have to hire help, etc.). This can be very helpful because, a year later, you will not be able to recall your pain and difficulties as vividly.
6. REGULAR CONTACT WITH YOUR ATTORNEY
Your attorney will contact you at regular intervals to find out how you are progressing. Please be sure to promptly answer all correspondence.
7. WAGES AND EARNINGS LOST
Please keep an accurate record of all days lost from work because of your injuries.
8. MEDICAL BILLS
Obtain and duplicate copies of all medical, hospital and drug bills. You should periodically send these bills to your attorney. Also keep a record of any other expenses you may have in connection with your injuries. You should obtain and keep receipts. You should make and keep a list of all of your medical bills and all of the costs incurred in going to each of your doctors.
9. CAR REPAIRS
If you have been injured in an automobile accident, do not have your automobile repaired until you have taken numerous pictures of the vehicle. Please be sure to take pictures from every conceivable angle and from different distances from the vehicle so that your attoney will have a complete set of pictures that detail the damage to your vehicle. Be sure to write your last name and the date that you took the pictures on the back of each photograph.
10. EVIDENCE OF SEVERITY OF CRASH
A. If you have received any bruises about your body caused by the seat belt, or striking a part of your body against something inside the car, you should take photographs of this injury(ies) which will be used to demonstrate the severity of the impact.
B. Even though there might be slight or minimal damages to the car, it is important to take many photographs of all of the damages to the vehicle. You should also keep and provide your attorney with all photographs and a copy of any estimates and/or bills for the repair of the damage to the car.
11. RECORD OF MEDICATION
Another very effective way of demonstrating the amount of pain which you incurred and/or suffered is to keep a very accurate record of all prescribed muscle relaxers, pain medication or other medicines taken by you to obtain any type of relief.
12. TRAFFIC OFFENSES
Never plead guilty to any traffic offense and if you are arrested in connection with this accident, call your lawyer immediately and make sure that someone represents or advises you.
13. WITNESSES
Furnish to your attorney immediately the correct names, addresses and telephone numbers of any and all witnesses to this accident.
14. SAVE YOUR CAST
If your injury requires a cast, brace, traction or other appliance, save it for evidence at trial. You should notify your attorney that you are keeping these things and when the case is set for hearing, you should bring these items with you.
15. PHOTOGRAPHS
Send your attorney prints of or email them any photographs pertaining to your case which you or any of your family or friends have taken. Be sure to have pictures taken of all of your injuries as close to the time of the accident as possible. If you are required to be in the hospital and are received any type of treatment such as traction or physical therapy, have pictures taken of that as well.
16. HOSPITAL AND DOCTOR BILLS
Have your own insurance carrier pay as many hospital and doctor bills under the payment provision of your policy as possible. You should also have your medical insurance, such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield, pay as many of your bills as possible. Doctors and hospitals are more cooperative when their bills are paid. You should not expect them to wait until your case is tried or settled to receive payment. You should, therefore, pay any balance as soon as possible.
17. BILLS AND RECEIPTS
It is very important to provide your attorney with copies of all of your bills and receipts for any and all accident related expenses.
18. SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS
Generally, your attorney may attempt to settle any and all claims with the insurance company prior to commencing suit. Your attorney will not be in a position to attempt to settle any claim until such time as your treating physician states that you have reached "maximum medical improvement" and furnishes your attorney with a final medical report.
19. QUESTIONS
Your attorney will probably not contact you, except to receive updates as to your condition, until they have something definite to report. Your attorney should be contacting you for depositions, answers to interrogatories and when your case goes to trial, which may be in excess of several years from the time the suit was filed.
20. YOUR ADDRESS
Be sure to keep your attorney advised of any change in your address, telephone number, or email address.
The above information is only a brief summary of some of the basic items which should be addressed in a personal injury case. There are a great number of other instructions which should be followed in such a case. Not knowing your rights or proceeding without the proper representation could severely prejudice your case.
It is very important that you contact one of the Free Lawyer Referral site like SelectCounsel.com at the earliest possible moment, so you can arrange to get one of the best lawyers in your area to protect your rights and to help maximize the amount of money your recover.
