When you are seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision, you will need a personal injury lawyer to handle your claim but you may not even know what they do. A personal injury lawyer can help you get compensation for your injuries and also help you with a denied insurance claim or Long-Term Disability. As you focus on your medical treatment, surgical interventions and therapeutic treatments, a lawyer focuses on protecting your legal rights.
If you were involved in a collision, the investigating police officer will want answers and if you are injured, your insurance company may need your statement or other information. While you might be able to handle these issues on your own, there may be too much at stake to handle it alone. During the confusing post-accident days, your lawyer intervenes on your behalf. As a legal representative, they will force those people to deal with their team instead of bothering you. A lawyer remains vigilant from the moment you decide you want their representation and a personal injury lawyer protects your legal rights.
Creating Your Road Map
If someone else has injured you, you may be entitled to collect compensation for your injuries and losses. A personal injury lawyer can advise you about what steps you need to take to negotiate a settlement. If the insurance company refuses to come to a fair and reasonable settlement, a personal injury lawyer should be ready to take your case to court. Your version of the accident becomes the road map that your lawyer will follow as they protect your legal interests. When your lawyer discusses your case with you, they listen for facts and information that require additional clarification and follow up. They ask relevant questions about your accident circumstances, your injuries, pain, recovery, disabilities, insurance and other key information.
If you were injured in an auto collision, your legal representative will want to know about lights, traffic signals, speed limits, weather or traffic signs. Part of preparing for settlement is doing an investigation of the case and a personal injury lawyer will investigate your case which may involve hiring expert witnesses as well as gathering evidence available as a result of your accident.
You Need to Focus on Your Recovery
If you are in an auto accident, both your auto insurance carrier and the other driver’s auto insurance carrier will want to talk to you. To prevent them from contacting you, your personal injury lawyer advises all relevant parties that you are legally represented. They notify each person or entity that all future contacts or inquiries must come through their office. This allows a personal injury lawyer to keep track of insurance communications and insurance claim statuses,injury prognosis, medical treatment and other information critical to your case so you can focus on your recovery.
If a Law Firm makes their initial notice via phone or email, they will usually follow up with a formal letter or representation. They will send their representation letter to the drivers of other vehicles involved in your motor vehicle collision, manufacturers of defective machines, insurance companies and anyone else who may try to contact you about the incident.
Your lawyer will also represent you at every stage of the claim. This may include involvement in settlement discussions, depositions or examinations for discovery, document productions, mediation, the preparing and filing legal pleadings and motions with court, and any appearances at court or trial. When an agreement is reached outside of court, your personal injury lawyer will review settlement documents and releases to ensure that you are protected.
Important Things to Remember When You Are A Client
Once represented, your lawyer will instruct you on a variety of things you can do (or avoid doing) to help protect your personal injury case. Here are six important things to remember:
- Do not sign any document relative to your case without discussing it with your lawyer first. Use the rule: “Better Safe Than Sorry”.
- Keep copies of all bills you incur relative to the accident, even if your own insurance company is paying them. Do not throw any documents away pertaining to your case as your lawyer may need them in the future.
- Notify your lawyer immediately when your doctor has released you from further care and if and when you may decide to return to work. Keep the lines of communication open with your personal injury lawyer when it comes to any type of change in your recovery. Even if you may think the information may be minor, it could be major to your personal injury lawyer.
- Notify your lawyer immediately if you have a change of address or phone number and alert them if you are going out of town even if it is just for short period of time.
- Do not change doctors without advising your personal injury lawyer.
- Be honest with your lawyer at all times. Always remember that your personal injury lawyer is working on your behalf and they have the final say when it comes to any information that may or may not be relevant to your case.
Catastrophic and serious injuries often lead to complex diagnoses, treatment, prognoses and disabilities that can have a profound effect on your life. It is important to seek legal representation right away when you are seriously injured as there are important deadlines involved and most offer free consultations.
For more information please visit: www.iacobellilaw.com.
Submitted by Andrew Iacobelli, Personal Injury Lawyer
Iacobelli Law Firm is not only a member but they are also a proud sponsor of the Crash Support Network and we thank them for their support.
This article is also featured in our 2020 Fall Issue of Sharing our Recovery
The Crash Support Network is a unique website consisting of an online support group, a Crash Survivor Blog written by a survivor, our Sharing Our Recovery Newsletter, informative articles and a Virtual Crash Memorial. Our website is based on relationship-building and puts the needs of survivors first by creating a helpful resource for victims and survivors of motor vehicle crashes.
