If you or somebody you care about has been injured in an accident caused by the actions of another individual, business, or entity, you may need to file a personal injury claim to secure compensation for your losses. It is important that injury victims and their attorneys have a good relationship, and that includes ensuring your attorney gets the assistance and cooperation they need from you.
Don’t Talk About Your Case with Anyone but Your Attorney
The more you talk about your case to others, the more likely you are to say something that could jeopardize your ability to recover full compensation. Insurance carriers and legal teams for the alleged negligent party will use anything you say against you. This means that if a statement you make right after the accident deviates, even a little bit, from what you say a week or a month later, your claim could be in jeopardy. You should let your attorney handle all communication with other parties involved, including insurance carriers and any other attorney.
Take Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries
If you are able to safely do so at the scene of an accident, it is always recommended that you use your phone or another type of camera to take photographs of the cause of the incident, any damages, any injuries, debris, and more. At the scene of the incident, you should take photographs from multiple angles and varying distances so that anybody viewing the photos can get a clear idea of what happened.
Additionally, you should take photographs of your injuries at varying stages of healing and recovery. This can help document the severity of the injury and corroborate your pain and suffering.
Go to All Medical Appointments
You need to go to every medical appointment that your doctor schedules. This includes any follow-up visits, as well as any physical therapy and rehabilitation you have been ordered to undergo. If you discontinue treatment before your doctor says you have reached maximum medical improvement, this can be taken as evidence by the insurance carriers that you or not as injured as you claim.
Keep a Written Record of What Happened
We often recommend that injury victims keep a journal the documents every aspect of what they are going through. This includes the dates of any medical visit as well as a daily log documenting your level of pain and suffering. Journals are typically admissible in court, and this can help corroborate the severity of your injuries.
Avoid Posting About Your Accident on Social Media
It may seem like second nature to post information about your injuries or the accident on various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and more. However, we strongly advise our clients to avoid making any posts about the incident at all. Even if you think your privacy settings a wonderful, please understand that insurance carriers and opposing attorneys will be able to find information that you post. Anything you post online that deviates from your official statements could be used to deny your claim.
Respond to Your Lawyer Promptly
It is crucial that you stay in constant contact with your personal injury lawyer, particularly when they need information or documents from you. At Tiano O’Dell we strive to provide personalized attention to every case that we take. When you need a Charleston, WV personal injury attorney to help you with your case, contact our law firm.