How to Help Your Car Accident Attorney Strengthen Your Claim
If you were hurt in a wreck and you want to take action, a resourceful car accident attorney should be able to handle virtually every aspect of your claim. From conducting the initial investigation to negotiating for a settlement—or, if necessary, taking your case to court—a seasoned lawyer can guide your case through each stage of the proceedings while advocating for your rights at every turn.
That’s not to say you can’t support your legal team’s efforts, however. While hiring an attorney will certainly free you up to focus on your recovery, there are a few things you can do to help strengthen your personal injury claim from day one. Read on to learn what they are:
1. Be Honest
It’s crucial that you’re 100 percent truthful with your attorney. In order to help you secure the best outcome possible given the circumstances, your lawyer must know about your injuries, medical history, and lifestyle before the accident. They’re also going to ask whether you might have contributed to the crash in any way. If you think you did, explain how, so they can determine the best way to proceed.
2. Be Diligent
When building your claim, your attorney can only account for damages that you actually tell them about, so make sure to log all associated losses meticulously. Save any receipts or invoices that correspond to expenses you wouldn’t have incurred had you not gotten hurt, and write about the non-economic damages you suffer—i.e., mental anguish and emotional distress—in a daily journal.
3. Be Responsive
Your attorney is going to have lots of questions for you, especially during the earliest stages of the proceedings. By addressing them as quickly and thoroughly as possible, you can prevent unnecessary delays.
Your legal team is also going to request lots of documentation, like medical records and paystubs. Try to provide these as soon as you can, so your claim maintains momentum.
4. Be Compliant
Patient compliance is one of the biggest hurdles that healthcare providers face nowadays. They do their best to provide quality care, but if their patients decide to ignore medical advice, the treatments are not nearly as effective.
Once you start treatment, make an active effort to follow your doctor’s orders every step of the way. In addition to preventing serious complications, this will demonstrate a commitment to mitigating damages, which will make it harder for the opposing party to shift liability onto you, especially if complications arise.
Speak with a Florida Car Accident Lawyer
For help with your car accident claim, turn to Emerson Straw. We have secured more than $27 million for injured parties and their loved ones in personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Our tenacious team will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of every dollar you deserve, so you can hopefully secure the funds needed to put your life back together. Call (727) 821-1500 or submit our Contact Form to schedule a free initial consultation with a car accident attorney in Florida.