Your And Your Attorney: A Winning Combo

24 August 2016 by Jonathan Phillips

If you've been injured in a car wreck, you need to take time to heal and to get your life back to normal as soon as possible. To enhance that recovery, you may have made the smart decision to allow an attorney to help you with your personal injury claim. Just having a legal professional on your side can lower your stress levels and allow you to focus on getting better. It should be noted, however, that to successfully fight for fair compensation, your attorney will need your help. Read on to learn how to be a team player with your attorney to increase your chances for personal injury success.

1. Get your attorney on the right track quickly by arriving at your first meeting with important documents, such as:

• The police or accident report (usually available at the local office of law enforcement that responded to the accident. For rural areas check with the pertinent state trooper's office).
• Your insurance information as well as that of the other driver.
• The names and contact information for all involved parties and witnesses.
• A summary of medical procedures, treatments and expenses you've had, so far.
• A pay stub or income tax return to help estimate lost wages.

2. This form of assistance is more about what not to do than what to do. You will undoubtedly receive a phone call from the insurance adjuster for the at-fault party asking you to submit to a recorded statement. They may even imply that this is a requirement for processing your claim or that it is simply a "formality" before they cut you a check. You should never give a recorded statement to the other side's insurance company, and doing so could put your entire claim in jeopardy.

3. Be honest and forthright with your attorney from the very beginning. As this case progresses, the other side will perform an in-depth background investigation on several aspects of your life. Allow your attorney time to defend your past by letting them know well ahead of time about any criminal, employment or financial issues.

4. Don't leave your attorney guessing about the impact of the accident on your emotional and mental health. When it comes down to it, you and only you know how the accident has affected you and your family, so make it easier for your attorney to form an accurate picture of your pain and suffering. Begin by keeping a journal of your day-to-day struggles to deal with the accident and the mental trauma, such as depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, changes in appetite and more.

5. Don't wait too long to contact an attorney. You will lose your chance if you take too long, and your attorney will need time to prepare a lawsuit to file. Every state has a statute of limitations.

Talk to an attorney like Kathleen Kentish Lucero Atty At Law about more ways to be a team player on your personal injury claim. 

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