Personal Injury Attorney Tips For First Time Clients
Winning a personal injury case can be a tricky affair even when it seems straightforward. Whether you're going up against an individual or an insurance company, it's in their best interest to pay you as little as possible. This means that they're likely to engage in a certain level of trickery to deceive or frustrate you.
First time clients who've never filed a personal injury claim before are particularly likely to find themselves in a tough spot as lawyers will try to take advantage of their lack of experience. There are a few things that they can do to help themselves.
Hire an Attorney Who is Experienced
Having the right personal injury attorney is the most important decision you can make when you wish to file a case. It's not enough to just hire an attorney, it's just as important that the attorney be one who is experienced in handling that type of case.
Attorneys who represent clients in different types of cases may have a high success rate based on other types of cases. However, they may not be as familiar with personal injury cases. Therefore, it helps to hire someone that specializes in these cases.
Preserve as Much Evidence as Possible
If the case proceeds to trial, having as much evidence as possible is important. You will be the plaintiff and it will be up to you to prove your case. Therefore, you should collect as much evidence as possible by:
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Taking photographs of the accident scene or the defective product that led to the accident
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Taking photographs of all injuries caused by the accident
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Recording information such as the location of the accident or use landmarks if you don't know the area well
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Taking the contact information of witnesses
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Calling the police and filing a report
Get Medical Treatment ASAP
Delayed medical treatment can complicate your case because the other party can claim that the injuries occurred after the accident. Additionally, you should also follow the orders given to you by your doctor. Failing to follow these orders could give the other party ammunition to use against you.
Disclose Preexisting Injuries
Preexisting injuries can also create additional red flags if you fail to admit them. Be forthcoming if you had another injury prior to the incident especially if these injuries have been aggravated as a result of the accident. The other party will also be unable to use this injury to claim that the injuries you suffered had little to do with the accident.
Read more on sites for local accident attorneys.