Many people injured in an accident try to negotiate with the insurance company on their own. They try to save some money by not hiring an attorney. But doing so could become an expensive mistake. Having a trained professional advocate on your side early can lead to a high return on your investment. An insurance company won’t settle your case and pay you the money you need unless they think that you can win big in court. How do you do that? By building a great case.
So what should the attorney you hire do to build this case? Act quickly to secure the evidence and build a case.
After initial meetings with you, your lawyer will investigate your claim. This usually requires a review of some or all of the following:
a. Witness statements.
b. Police reports.
c. A possible visit to the scene of the incident.
d. A review of appropriate statutory law (laws enacted by your legislature).
e. A review of appropriate case law (laws made by judges who interpret statutory law).
f. A review of all medical reports.
g. A review of all medical bills.
h. The possible hiring of an investigator to investigate the details of the incident.
Your lawyer will also contact the insurance company for the person, persons, or company who caused your injuries. After the initial investigation and contact with the insurance company, your lawyer will maintain contact with you to make sure of the following:
a. That you are following the advice of your physicians and other medical practitioners.
b. That you are doing your best to improve from your injury.
c. That you are providing your lawyer with copies of all medical bills and other expenses related to the incident.
d. That you are providing records of loss of income from your job.
e. That you are keeping track of potential witnesses in your case.
Medical records will be obtained through the use of authorization forms as discussed below. Your lawyer will review those medical reports as they come in from your doctor and will keep abreast of the applicable law relating to your case.
If you have hired the right attorney the only thing that you will be required to do is to get better. Hire an attorney who has the experience to build a great case and allow you to focus your energies on healing. Getting an attorney early in the process helps ensure that evidence is gathered, witnesses found and interviewed, all while getting the time and peace of mind you need.
