What to expect in a personal injury case

Proceedings in a plaintiff’s personal injury case can take anywhere from six months to several years, and a client’s patience can be sorely tested during this time. However, it has been our experience that customers who are warned have a much higher tolerance level for slowly turning wheels of justice. The following is a portion of the details you may want to tell your new personal injury clients after you’ve been hired:

Procedurally, the following events occur in most personal injury cases. First, your attorney must complete the investigation and file. This will involve data collection from your doctor, your employer, and our investigator. When we feel we have enough information to form an opinion about the financial extent of your damages, we will begin negotiations with the opposition to reach an agreement.

1. Medical/Treatment

It will help your case to tell us and your doctors about any injuries or medical problems before or after your accident. Good cases can be lost if the injured person hides or forgets a previous or subsequent injury or medical problem. Insurance companies keep a record of any and all claims against any insurance company. The insurance company will surely find out if you have ever made a previous claim.

Tell your doctors all your complaints. Physician records can only be
as complete as what you have given. Keep track of all prescriptions and medicines taken and the corresponding bills. Also save any medicine bottles or containers.

2.Daily

You should keep a journal of your experiences since your accident. In addition to this daily log, we also ask you to begin describing a single day in the course of your life. In other words, describe what you do when you get up in the morning, the first thing you do after going to work, what kind of work and effort you put into your job, what activities you do after work, etc.

In other words, we need you to describe the changes in your working life,
your gaming life, your life as a husband or wife or child or parent. In your written description of his day, we would appreciate it if you could explain in as much detail as possible and in his own words how the accident and subsequent injuries have affected your life, personality, and his outlook.

And remember that suffering does not imply mere physical pain; the suffering can be emotional and can be passed on to your family and friends, at work and at play. When you have completed this description, please return it to this office in the enclosed envelope.

Keep a journal of all the issues related to this accident, no matter how trivial you think it may be. You must include notes about the treatments you receive, therapy, casts, appliances, hospitalization, change of doctors, change of medication, symptoms, recurrence, setbacks, disabilities and discomfort. If you have any questions about the ownership of including any particular information, please call the office and let us help you.

3. Record of medical expenses and out-of-pocket expenses

You can also start setting up a system to record expenses incurred along with your claim in detail. Medical and legal expenses are a significant part of the value of your claim, so good records of these expenses should be kept at all times. Your attorney will keep track of your legal expenses, which may include filing costs, service of process, investigation, reports, depositions, witness fees, jury fees, etc.

From time to time, however, there will be expenses incurred that you need to keep track of. We ask that you do your best to avoid any potential errors or inaccuracies, as jurors have an unrelenting reverence for the truth. Please keep your canceled checks and expense list together, as we will need them at a later date.

Together, these procedures can take anywhere from six months to several years, and your patience can be very tested during this time. However, it has been our experience that customers who are warned have a much higher tolerance level for slowly turning wheels of justice.

4. Don’t talk about the case

The insurance company may call you on the phone and record the conversation or send an adjuster (investigator) who may carry a hidden recorder. You should not discuss your case with anyone.

Obviously, we cannot stress too much that you do not discuss this matter with anyone other than your trusted lawyer or immediate family. You should not sign any document without the consent of this office. Remember that at any time you can be photographed and investigated by the opposition. By following the simple precautions we’ve laid out in your checklist, we believe we’ll be able to recover a fair and adequate amount for your injuries. If you receive letters from anyone regarding your case, mail or fax them to your attorney immediately.

5. Questioning

If anyone approaches you regarding this accident without your attorney’s permission, please take complete notes on the incident. These notes must include the name and address of the party, a description of the person, and a narrative description of what was said or done. Under no circumstances should you answer any questions. All questions should be referred to your attorney’s office.

6. Invoices

Keep all bills related to your damages, including medical bills, hospital bills, drugs and medicines, therapy, appliances, and anything else needed to help you recover. If possible, pay these bills by check or money order so that a complete record can be kept. If this is not possible, be sure to get a full receipt with the invoice header indicating where the receipt came from and the party issuing it.

7. Evidence

Be sure to keep anything that comes into your possession that can be used as evidence in your case, such as shoes, clothing, glasses, photographs, faulty machinery, faulty parts, foreign substances that may have been a factor in your accident, etc. Be sure to let the office know that you have these items in your possession.

8. Photographs

Take pictures of all motor vehicles, machinery, appliances, etc., that may be related, directly or indirectly, to your accident. Again, be sure to let the office know that you have such photos.

9. Keep your lawyer informed

Keep this office informed at all times regarding address changes, major changes in medical treatment, termination of treatment, termination of employment, reemployment, or any other unusual changes in your life.

10. Insurance reports

Before making any reports to your insurance company, check with this office regarding the appropriateness of reporting on liability, medical payment coverage, property damage or other claims under your policy, or claims against your own policy for part of a third party. party.

11. Lost wages

Keep a complete record of all lost wages. Obtain a statement from your company that describes the time you have lost, the wage rate you are paid, the hours you work per week, your average weekly wage, and any losses suffered as a result of this accident. Whenever possible, obtain other evidence as well, such as ledger sheets, copies of time cards, canceled checks, check stubs, vouchers, pay stubs, etc.

12. New information

In the event that any new information regarding the evidence in this case comes to your attention, please notify the Attorney immediately. This is particularly true in the case of witnesses who until now have not been available.

13. Tracking

Remember at all times that you may be under surveillance and therefore subject to being photographed or filmed by the opposing party. Please note that there are cases where photographs and films have been filed in court showing plaintiffs who were allegedly in serious condition engaging in activities they claimed they were unable to perform. You don’t have to live in fear of being photographed, of course, if your cause is just.

14. Presentation of complaint

If the early settlement is not productive, then a complaint is filed and the parties are notified that a claim has been filed. The opposition is then given a set amount of time to file what is known as a “Response.” The answer if is usually followed by a request for written interrogatories. These are questions that the plaintiff must answer with the help of a lawyer. Written interrogations are generally followed by the taking of statements, which is recorded testimony given under oath by anyone the opposition wishes to question.

However, as you go about your normal activities, keep in mind at all times that you are subject to investigation. If you have been seriously injured, do not do anything that could jeopardize your case in the course of your daily life. You should always follow your doctor’s advice. If you have to do things that cause you pain, this can usually be explained to the satisfaction of any court or jury.

There are cases where the insurance agent has tried to discredit a
personal injury plaintiff by taking movies of the plaintiff engaging in various physical activities. In one case, large rocks weighing over one hundred pounds were placed on the garage door overnight so that the claimant would have to remove the rocks to drive to work. This, of course, was filmed and used to discredit the plaintiff’s claim in court.

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