Your role in a personal injury lawsuit

After an accident, you may be overwhelmed with injuries, medical bills, and lost work time. You may be uncertain what to do.

It’s understandable, but the fact of the matter is what you do after you’re hurt matters, and there are things you can do to make your claim or lawsuit more favorable.

A critical part of the process is ensuring you have the assistance of a personal injury attorney. Whether you were in a car accident, slip-and-fall, workplace mishap, or any other type of incident, Nix Patterson’s personal injury attorneys can review your case and tell you what your next legal steps should be.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

One of the most essential actions after a serious accident is promptly hiring a personal injury attorney. An experienced car accident or truck accident personal injury attorney can provide expert legal representation if a negligent party has injured you. Usually, the negligent person or entity did not intend to harm you, but an attorney is still needed to hold them financially liable.

Your personal injury lawyer will strive to get you the most compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. Personal injury attorneys at Nix Patterson have years of experience dealing with complex insurance companies and know how to handle negotiations, claims, and going to court, if necessary. Some of the different types of personal injury cases our attorneys can handle are:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Wrongful death accidents
• Product liability cases
• Workplace injury accidents
• Premises liability cases

Nix Patterson attorneys have a long record of impressive settlements and favorable verdicts, and you can count on them to work hard to deliver the best financial outcome.

Providing Personal Injury Lawyer with All Related Information

Your personal injury attorney will win or lose your case based on the quality of the evidence. Obtaining a settlement or favorable verdict in a personal injury claim means proving with evidence that the other party caused or contributed to your injuries.

So, presenting all the facts to your personal injury attorney is essential. Never attempt to hide any information from your lawyer. Even if you think the information makes you look bad or calls your case into question, tell your lawyer everything.

For example, many states have comparative negligence laws for accidents. This means if the plaintiff was partially at fault for the accident, their compensation may be reduced by their degree of fault. This legal principle could encourage a plaintiff not to disclose that they may have been partially at fault for the accident. That said, the other driver’s insurance company will try to find out if you were partially at fault.

The best strategy is to tell your attorney this vital information. Your lawyer can prepare your case with your potential partial negligence in mind. It is better to have that crucial information from the beginning of the case, not as a surprise later.

Not Accepting an Offer from the Insurance Company

You can expect their insurance company to call you after an accident where another party may have been at fault. Their goal is to get you to take a quick settlement or say something that damages your case. You should not talk to the other party’s insurance company and never commit to them without your lawyer’s involvement. If their insurance adjuster calls you, it’s best to refer the call to your personal injury attorney politely.

Continuing Treatment of Injuries

Receiving fair compensation for your injuries involves getting prompt medical treatment. Even if you believe you were unaffected in the accident, you should see a medical professional promptly. The longer you delay seeing a doctor, the more likely the other party’s insurance company will question your injuries.

Also, once you have been given a diagnosis and treatment plan, continue to receive treatment for your injuries. Attend every doctor’s appointment, and promptly reschedule any appointment you miss. The insurance company will check if you are getting medical treatment and ask questions if you miss appointments. Attending every medical appointment and sticking to the treatment plan is a huge help to your attorney and your case.

Getting Your Doctor in Your Corner

Every successful personal injury case comes down to proving that you have injuries related to the accident. So, it is essential to have the doctor who understands the implications of your injuries. The opinion of a licensed doctor carries a lot of weight in personal injury cases.

Preserving Accident Evidence

Another important role in your personal injury case is preserving as much accident evidence as possible. For example, after the accident, you should take many photos of the accident scene, your injuries, vehicle positions, tire marks on the road, etc. All of this evidence is important to your case, and you should hold onto it and turn it over to your lawyer during the initial consultation.

Not Posting on Social Media

Most of us enjoy posting on social media, but silence is golden when you are involved in an active personal injury case. You should generally only post on social media channels once the case is resolved and never post anything about the accident.

Social media accounts are public information; even a private account can often be accessed by a curious insurance company. Anything you say on social media could be twisted against you and used to damage your case. Just saying that you went for a walk that morning could make the insurance company question your injuries. Wait to post on social media until the case is complete.

Being Realistic About Your Case

Everyone wants the most money in their personal injury settlement or verdict award. But it pays dividends to be realistic about your case and rely on your attorney’s opinion. You should listen to them if they say you can only expect a certain amount for a maximum settlement.

Even if you think you should go to trial and try for more, sometimes it is best to take the settlement your attorney recommends. Taking a settlement on your attorney’s advice can resolve the matter quicker and get money in your pocket. Plus, going to trial is unpredictable, and there’s always a chance you could wind up empty-handed.

Not Trying to Handle Your Own Case

While there are some minor accidents that you can resolve without an attorney, such as small fender-benders without injuries, you are often best consulting with an attorney. Some injury victims try to handle their own cases and quickly find that they are unable to advocate effectively for themselves with a large insurance company.

If you bring in a personal injury attorney late in the process, you may have already undermined your case with something you said or did. Instead, consider having a Nix Patterson personal injury attorney review your case initially. There’s no risk and no obligation.

Contact Nix Patterson Personal Injury Attorneys Today

If you were hurt in a recent accident, was it caused by someone’s negligence? If so, you could be entitled to receive compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Nix Patterson’s personal injury attorneys are ready to be your passionate legal advocates. Contact our offices today for a complimentary consultation.