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8 Things to Help Your Personal Injury Attorney

After an accident or personal injury caused by no fault of your own, the last thing you want to worry about is whether or not your personal injury case will be successful. While the role of your attorney is important, there are a number of things you can do to help your personal injury attorney get the best result in your case.

Here are a few tips to remember as you move forward with your personal injury case.

1. Be proactive and act fast. All too often, evidence get destroyed, disappears, or fades away. Yet, in many incidents, valuable evidence can make or break a personal injury case. So, after an accident, act fast and be proactive to ensure your attorney can leverage any important evidence.

2. Take photos of your injuries. Documenting your injuries is an essential aspect of any successful personal injury case. It is important to photograph your injuries, no matter how minor they may seem. Since the appearance of injuries changes over time, take photos of your injuries as they progress and heal. Have photos taken of your injuries on a biweekly basis – try to include a timestamp on each photo.

3. Get appropriate medical treatment. Thoroughly and honestly describe your injuries and complaints to all doctors, nurses, and physical therapists after your accident. Make sure to keep all your medical appointments and provide as much information as you can to medical personnel about your condition.

4. Keep your attorney informed about your injury treatment and recovery. 

Provide your attorney with the names of all doctors and other medical personnel you see during your recovery phase. Let your attorney know if the following occurs:

  • Your condition noticeably improves or worsens
  • You are diagnosed with additional injuries that may be attributed to your accident
  • Complications due to your initial injury are detected
  • Your doctor states that you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI) in your healing process

5. Don’t talk about your case. Discussing your case with potential witnesses or insurance claims representatives could be hazardous to your personal injury case. What you say may be misconstrued or even used against you.

6. Save documents in a central file. Organize important documents related to your case and injury and keep them together in a

central file. The following items should be added to the file and stored in a safe place:

  • A list of all medical bills, prescription costs, and any other expenses related to your injury
  • All documents and correspondence with your attorney
  • A record of lost wages or income
  • Copies of photos of your injury
  • All prescription pill bottles and medication containers

7. Get copies of your medical bills. Any time you visit a medical professional for treatment related to your accident, ask for a copy of the bill. Keep an accurate record of all medical bills you incur after your accident and give your attorney a copy of each ­– even if the bill was paid for by your health insurance carrier, workers’ compensation, or another party paid the bill.

8. Keep your attorney informed about witnesses. Provide your attorney with as many witness details as possible including name, address, and contact information. Notify your attorney of any additional witnesses, change of witness address, or any other important information about witnesses who saw your accident or can testify on how your injury has affected your life.

Both you and your attorney have the same goal in your personal injury case: get you the compensation you deserve after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. To achieve the best results and accomplish this goal, it is important to work together to and keep lines of communication clear.

PERSONAL INJURY CASE IN PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND, VA

If you’ve been injured in an accident due to another’s negligence and would like to discuss your legal options, contact our Richmond and Petersburg personal injury attorneys at Cuthbert Law Offices today.