What Information Will An Attorney Need From Me For My Car Accident Case?

When you have been injured in an automobile accident through the fault of another person, you should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to handle your case. While the attorney will assist you with your case from beginning to end, there are still many common sense approaches you can take on your own to make sure that your case is handled in the most efficient way possible. One of those approaches is taking a proactive role in your own case. You can do this in the following ways:

1. Provide accurate and updated information to your attorney regarding your contact information.

Whenever there is any change of address, telephone number, or any other contact information, you should always let your attorney know. It is surprising how often even conscientious clients will forget to do this. Failure of a client to communicate this information to their attorney can lead to delays in their case. Also, if you are out of town or out of the country for an extended period of time and are unreachable, it is important to let your attorney know how to reach you.

2. Keep your attorney updated about your treatment status.

If you’re currently receiving medical treatment, you want to make sure that you let your attorney know if you are unable to keep your appointments with the doctor/medical provider. Also, if you have completed your treatment or if your pain has gotten worse, you should let your attorney know right away so that they are aware of your treatment progress. If you don’t, the adverse insurance company will frequently scrutinize gaps in treatment, missed appointments, etc., when evaluating the value of your auto accident claim.  It will only help you to communicate as much information as possible to your attorney.

3. Keep detailed notes and receipts regarding any out-of-pocket expenses or lost income.

-For example, if you have to travel 20 miles back and forth to the medical provider and you have to go for treatment three times a week, you should keep track of the mileage for reimbursement.

-Make sure you let your doctor know that you have missed time from work so that the doctor can document that properly in your medical record.

-If you have to pay co-pays for any treatment or medication that you received or paid for any medical treatment, please keep receipts.

-If you are unable to work, you should make detailed notes of the days and hours you missed. If you are self-employed, it is important to keep track of the time lost to document the lost income.

-If you have to hire someone to work for you because you are unable to work, make sure that this is also documented as well. You may have to provide copies of the paychecks that you paid the employee as well as the bank statement confirming that the check was cashed. You will need to document the days the employee worked, the number of hours they worked, and their wage amount.

4. Disclose everything to your attorney regarding any prior or subsequent accidents, claims, or injuries.

By letting the attorney know about your past accident and injury claims, it will help the attorney to be in a better position to negotiate a fair offer on your case. Insurance adjusters have access to large databases, which check for insurance claims histories on each and every client.  If you don’t tell your attorney about your history, you may put yourself at a disadvantage when your attorney is negotiating your case.

These are just a few of the common sense approaches to how you can assist your attorney in the course of your case. If you would like more information or would like to speak with an attorney regarding your case, please call the Bob Katz Law Office at 410-576-4287.

Please note that the above does not constitute specific legal advice. Each case has different facts, and you should always consult with your attorney if you have any doubts as to how to proceed in your unique circumstance.

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