Considering there are 39.5 million personal injury cases requiring medical care every year in the U.S., it’s a certainty that these situations are not uncommon.
Personal injuries can result from car accidents, slips or falls, workplace mishaps, dog bites, medical malpractice, bicycle accidents, product liability, or other things. While the injury itself is problematic enough, the trauma and recovery time can be daunting.
That’s one reason to contact a personal injury lawyer if hurt in an accident. A legal professional in that area of the law will examine your situation, let you know if you have a reasonable chance of success, and help you file a claim if warranted.
But here’s the thing. Even if you have the best personal injury lawyer in town, you can hamper their efforts if you make errors.
Here are four things to do to achieve success.
1. Get the Police Report
After an accident that requires the presence of law enforcement, you should get the police report. Your personal injury lawyer will need this report to build a strong case. A police report will include things like the following:
- Names and contact details of the parties involved and any witnesses
- Identity of the at-fault party
- Diagrams or sketches of the accident scene
It’s worth noting that the insurance company isn’t bound by the police officer’s finding of who is at fault. They might agree or disagree. But a police report is a must, regardless. It’ll help establish certain facts, as determined by whichever police officer wrote the report.
2. See a Doctor
After an accident that leaves you injured, you must see a doctor to report the incident and get a thorough examination. In fact, you should see your healthcare provider even if you don’t immediately feel any signs of injury since not all injuries are immediately evident. Let a doctor make that determination. You’ll want records indicating you sought medical care, were examined by a medical professional, and received a diagnosis.
You’ll want to give your personal injury lawyer all documentation related to medical care. It’ll make it easier for your legal representative to build a strong case.
3. Attend Medical Treatments Faithfully
Are you the sort of person who hates going to medical appointments? If so, you’ll need to overcome that aversion sooner rather than later. If a doctor recommends follow-up appointments, physiotherapy, or other things to help you get better, you’ll do yourself no favors by skipping these appointments. You might sink your personal injury case.
Remember that an insurance company will try to poke holes in your case to avoid paying anything or reduce the amount paid. If the insurer sees you did not attend medical appointments or had shoddy attendance despite your doctor’s advice, they can reasonably question how injured you are. That’ll make your lawyer’s job harder.
4. Avoid Doing Things That Make You Look Dishonest
If you take an absence from work to heal from a personal injury, you shouldn’t be out doing things that undermine whatever injuries you claim. You might normally be an active person and have trouble staying still. But if you’re found doing things that you shouldn’t, given your injuries, that could spell trouble.
5. Don’t Post on Social Media
You should also avoid posting updates about your personal injury situation on social media. Also, don’t post content that could be used against you in court. If you have a back injury after a car accident, you probably shouldn’t be taking a long road trip. Posting updates and pictures to document the epic excursion is also ill-advised. While you don’t have to be confined to home sweet home, you should be careful.
These are some things to remember if you pursue a personal injury claim. The right lawyer will help you get the compensation you deserve. But you need to mind your Ps and Qs to avoid making things more difficult than they already are.
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Eamon