Many factors impact the outcome of a personal injury claim, including the things that you do immediately after an accident and throughout your claim. Below are five things that you can do to help your New Jersey personal injury attorney to get the best outcome possible for your injury claim.
How To Help Your Attorney Get Great Results
1. Don’t Talk to Insurance Companies
An insurance adjuster may pressure you to provide a statement or sign a medical release form. The adjuster might say that he needs the statement and release before he can process your claim, or your claim will move quickly if you provide a statement and release. Don’t do it! The insurance company is trying to obtain the information it can use against you. It is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer before providing any statements or signing a medical release form.
2. Keep Copies of All Documents You Receive
Your attorney may also have copies of the forms and documents you receive from your doctors, the insurance company, or other parties regarding your accident and claim. However, it is best to keep those copies and give them to your attorney’s office to make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
3. Create an Expense Log
To recover compensation for your financial losses and expenses, you need documentation. Create an expense log to note every expense or financial loss related to your accident, injury, or recovery. Make a note whether you paid the amount, or an insurance provider paid the bill. Keep copies of receipts, bills, and invoices for each entry. Don’t forget to add entries for travel to and from doctors, over-the-counter medications, and help with household chores or personal care.
4. Create a Pain and Suffering Journal
You may also be entitled to compensation for your physical pain and emotional suffering. Because there are no “bills” for these damages, it can help to have information demonstrating how you suffered after the accident. A pain and suffering journal is a log of your daily pain levels, how the insurance impacted your relationships with others, and the things you missed or could not do because of the injury. It can also be helpful to have photographs of your injuries throughout your recovery.
5. Stay Off the Internet
Don’t use social media accounts or post information about your accident or injury online, including in emails or chats. The information you post online could be accessed or obtained by the insurance company or a defense attorney. Some of the information you post could be twisted to mislead a jury about the severity of your injuries or your responsibility for causing the accident. It is best to avoid using social media if possible, but at least refrain from posting anything about your accident, injuries, recovery, or daily activities until your case is settled.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Attorney for More Information
If you have been injured in an accident, the steps you take could help or hurt your case. A New Jersey personal injury attorney can help you take the right steps to avoid costly mistakes and errors that could hurt your chance of a successful outcome. Schedule a consultation with our New Jersey personal injury lawyers today.