Getting hurt in an auto collision, receiving improper medical treatment, or having an accident on the job or in public can be devastating, especially when those events result in long term injuries. If you have been in an accident and are wondering where and when to seek legal advice for injury, the answer is to find a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after the incident.
When working with an attorney, the advice you receive will pertain to your case — which may or may not be similar to the general tips presented here. However, these guidelines are good to keep in mind no matter what type of lawsuit you may be filing. Here are three things to keep in mind as you begin your legal consultation.
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1. Keep your attorney informed. When you first meet with a personal injury attorney, you’ll want to make sure he or she has all the information needed to fight your case. Prepare documents in advance for your attorney, and make sure to write down dates and times for all incidents that have occurred — including the names of anyone involved. Your lawyer may ask for other documents or information from you, so be sure to provide it in a timely manner.
2. Stay away from social media. It may be easy to talk to friends and relatives about the case, but it’s best to keep it off the internet. For example, if you’ve had an auto accident and are claiming serious injury, tweeting about your daily life or checking in to restaurants through Facebook may get your claim thrown out. After all, if you’re suffering from an injury, the defense may argue that it’s not that bad if you’re able to go on the computer or your phone. Additionally, this will also help you keep the details of your case to yourself, so you don’t give away information that needs to stay confidential.
3. Don’t expect to go to trial. Personal injury lawsuits rarely make it to trial — in fact, this only occurs in about 4% or 5% of all cases. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that around 31 million people each year face injuries that necessitate medical care, and although some of these injuries may result in a lawsuit, they don’t all end up in court. There’s a 95% to 96% chance that your lawsuit will be settled out of court, so don’t be disappointed if it does. (In fact, sometimes this is an advantage that expedites the settlement process.)
If you have specific questions pertaining to your situation, be sure to speak with a personal injury attorney. Attorneys are able represent you in a lawsuit and can fight to get you the settlement you deserve. Have more questions? Be sure to leave a comment below. Find out more at this site.
