If you were injured in a slip and fall, car accident or incident at work, you may think your work is done after you hire a personal injury attorney. While hiring a lawyer can certainly give you more freedom to focus on healing from your injuries instead of legal issues, there is a lot you can do to help your lawyer help you. Take the following six steps to increase your odds of getting better results for your injury claim in Utah.
Don’t Talk About Your Case With Anyone but Your Attorney
It is natural to want to talk about your accident and injury with others, especially friends and family. However, draw the line when it comes to talking about your personal injury case. An injury case is a delicate legal matter that can easily be thrown off course by saying the wrong thing to someone. Insurance companies are exceptionally good at finding out things you’ve said and twisting them around to use against you. The best way you can avoid this is by not talking about your accident case with anyone but your personal injury attorney.
Take Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries
The strength of a personal injury claim rests heavily on documentation: documentation of the accident, of what caused the accident, of your injuries and your related losses. One of the strongest forms of documentary evidence is photographs and videos. You can help your lawyer out by using your smartphone to take photographs and videos while still at the scene of your accident. Capture images of your injuries, as well, and continue taking photos as they heal. The more pictures you take, the better the chances are of your lawyer being able to use them to build a claim.
Go to All Medical Appointments
Failing to get proper medical attention is one of the most common reasons insurance companies in Utah deny claims. Do your part by going to a hospital or doctor immediately after an accident. Then, continue to follow up with your doctor by attending all medical appointments and adhering to a treatment plan. Deviating from your medical care regimen can give an insurance company an excuse to deny or reduce your award.
Keep a Written Record of What Happened
In addition to photographic documentation, keep a written record of what happened. It can be beneficial to your lawyer if you write down exactly what you remember from your accident, as well as a detailed description of how your injury has impacted your life. Your lawyer can use this written record as documentation of your losses; especially intangible losses such as physical pain and emotional suffering.
Avoid Posting About Your Accident on Social Media
Social media is no friend to personal injury claims. Nowadays, insurance companies almost always search clients’ social media accounts for any evidence to use against them. Even if you think you’re posting responsibly, the insurance company can use even the smallest mistake against you.
If you go out to eat while in recovery, for example, and tag your location on Facebook, the insurance company can use this as proof that you are still able to enjoy your life – hurting your claim to pain and suffering damages. One of the best things you can do to help your attorney win your case is to stay off of social media.
Respond to Your Lawyer Promptly
Just as you expect prompt responses from your attorney, your attorney expects the same from you. Failing to respond to emails or phone calls from your lawyer promptly can delay your claim and make it more difficult for your attorney to achieve a fair outcome on your behalf. Do your best to answer your attorney the same day and submit any information or documentation the lawyer requests as soon as possible. This can help you save time and improve the strength of your case.
