How to Help Your Personal Injury Lawyer With Your Case
If you get injured in a car accident, slip and fall accident, or another type of preventable accident in Southern California, the law may entitle you to monetary recovery. A successful personal injury case can provide the money you and your family need to move forward. Although a skilled Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will know how to best handle your case, there are things you can do to help your attorney and achieve better results.
Don’t Talk About Your Case With Anyone But Your Attorney
Do not trust anyone except your attorney with information about your case while it is still underway. All of the other parties involved are not on your side, including an insurance company. Talking about your case could put you at risk of saying the wrong thing to the wrong person, such as accidentally admitting fault for the accident to an insurance claims adjuster.
It is also important not to talk to anyone in your social life about your case. This includes friends and family members, other than your spouse. If your personal injury case goes to trial in California, the defense lawyer can force your friends and family members to testify about what you said to them. The only exception is your spouse, who is protected from testifying against you through spousal privilege.
Take Photos of the Scene and Your Injuries
The strength of your personal injury case rests largely with the evidence and documentation you have to support your claim. One of the best things you can do to help your case is to take photos of the scene of your accident and your injuries. Although you may feel angry or overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath of an accident, it is important to take photographs while still at the scene. Photos and videos can help you prove who was responsible for causing your injury.
Go to All Medical Appointments
Medical care is an integral part of a personal injury case. The price of the medical care that is required after an accident will become part of your claim to financial damages. Proving the severity of your injuries and how they have impacted your life is also key to a fair financial recovery.
Follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. Deviating from the plan could give an insurance company a reason to blame you for the severity of your injuries. Go to all of your medical appointments and do not wait to get treatment. Request copies of your medical records to serve as evidence during your personal injury case.
Keep a Written Record of What Happened
Keeping complete and accurate records after an accident can help you build a stronger personal injury case. Create a written record of what happened, as well as a description of how your injuries are healing over time. Explain your version of events as you remember them to be true, while the details are still clear in your mind. Start an injury journal after your accident, as well, and update it frequently with how you are feeling and how the injury is impacting your life.
Avoid Posting About Your Accident on Social Media
Your activity on social media can be used as evidence against you during a personal injury case. Even something that seems as harmless as checking into your favorite restaurant can serve as proof that the accident did not diminish your quality of life or prevent you from enjoying yourself. The best way to protect your legal rights is to stay off of social media platforms altogether until your personal injury case has been resolved.
Respond to Your Lawyer Promptly
Your personal injury lawyer will do everything he or she can to build a strong claim to damages on your behalf. You can make things easier for your lawyer, however, by always responding promptly to any questions or requests for information.
Agree on the best form of communication and keep up with messages or requests. Return phone calls right away and cooperate with each phase of the case. This can increase the efficiency of your case and show your lawyer that you are not wasting his or her time. It can also save you money if you are paying your attorney based on an hourly rate.
For more information about what you can do to help with your personal injury case, contact The Ryan Law Group today.