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These are some things you can do to help your lawyer get the most money for your personal injury claim.
Preserve Evidence and Keep Records of:
- Medical Bills & Prescription Receipts
- Doctor’s Appointments
- Repair Costs
- Accident/Collision Reports
- Pictures
- Any work you may have missed due to the injury, as well as a breakdown of lost income/wages
- A daily log of your pain level
- A journal of how your injury has affected your life or daily living
Attend all Doctor’s appointments and follow the prescribed treatment plan
It’s important that you follow your doctor’s orders so as to speed up your recovery. An insurance company will normally base a settlement on reasonable and timely medical care. They may question or refuse to pay for any treatment they think is unreasonable. For example, if a doctor prescribes physical therapy 2x per week for 6 weeks then make sure to go to all those sessions. Failure to do so or unnecessarily extending that therapy could result in the insurance company denying your injury claim because you weren’t doing what was necessary to get better. One of the big mistakes I hear of people making is going to a doctor or chiropractor for exceptionally long periods of time, even when the treatment doesn’t seem to be helping much. Even though that may run up a big bill, it usually doesn’t help your case. In fact, it may hurt your case because a jury may think you kept getting treatment just to run up the bill and appear more injured than you really were.
Stay off of or be very careful using Social Media
An insurance company may deny an injury claim if they see you talking about the incident online, or if you post pictures that appear to contradict your injuries.
Keep your lawyer informed
Do not talk to insurance company adjusters or its lawyers about your case so as not to say anything that would jeopardize the settlement of your injury claim. Notify your lawyer promptly if anyone tries contacting you about your case. It is up to your lawyer to talk to the insurance companies and other lawyers.
Respond promptly to your lawyer’s requests and ask questions
If an insurance company makes a settlement offer on your case, it will be up to you to make the final decision about whether or not to accept it. Be sure to listen to any advice your lawyer offers and think carefully before making an informed decision. If you are unsure of accepting your insurance claim settlement always ask questions. And be sure you understand the “bottom line” – how much money you will receive after all expenses, attorneys fees and reimbursements are paid.
Questions to ask your lawyer before agreeing to an injury claim settlement
- What have other cases settled for that are similar to yours and in your same geographic area?
- Will you be responsible for reimbursing any of the medical or insurance providers who paid your medical bills?
- If you choose not to accept the offer, what happens next?
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, a slip/fall, by a dangerous or defective product, in a nursing home, or by a medical professional then contact the personal injury law firm of Gautreaux Law for help. We’ll schedule a free, one-on-one strategy session to review your case and let you know what we believe your case may be worth. Attorney Jarome Gautreaux has the experience needed to get you maximum compensation while easing your burden so you can get on the road to a full recovery.