Your Wisconsin personal injury attorney’s job is to help obtain a favorable outcome in your personal injury case. But your attorney needs your help to increase the chances of a successful case outcome. Learn how to help your attorney win your personal injury case in this article. Then, talk to our Oak Creek personal injury attorneys at Martin Law Office, S.C., today if you need assistance.
First, honesty is always the best policy. You should be straight with your attorney about your injuries and how the accident happened. If you tell your lawyer the truth, having a favorable outcome is much easier. Here is an example:
The strength of your personal injury case comes down to proving another party was negligent. For example, suppose another driver turned left in front of your vehicle, and you broke your arm in the accident. The accident would appear to be the other driver’s fault. But what if you were speeding when the accident happened? This could affect your settlement.
Wisconsin is a comparative negligence state, which means your settlement may be reduced according to your percentage of fault for the accident. So, for example, if you were 30% at fault in the above example, you would receive 30% less in the settlement.
Some plaintiffs know they might get less money if they were partially at fault for the accident. So, they may omit some of the story when talking to their attorney. However, you should always be honest about what happened, including your possible partial liability for the accident.
The sooner your attorney knows about any weaknesses in the case, the better job she can do for you. Tell the truth from the start, and you will be better off.
Receiving compensation in a Wisconsin personal injury claim means you have been injured in an accident. You need medical treatments to get you back to health and should be compensated for that (as well as your pain and suffering, lost earnings, and more). However, if you do not attend all of your doctor’s appointments, you make your attorney’s job more difficult.
Your lawyer must show that you are injured and receiving treatment, so attending your medical appointments is vital to your settlement. If you cannot make an appointment, reschedule it as soon as possible. If the insurance company thinks you are avoiding treatment, they will say this proves you are not seriously injured.
Your attorney will be organized as she assembles the case, but there are things you can do to assist her. First, it helps to provide the following documentation. This will aid in the settlement process:
It is helpful to purchase an expandable file folder to keep all of your personal injury case documentation organized. Also, keep a list in the folder of every time and date you spoke to anyone about your personal injury claim.
After an accident, you may get a call from the other person’s insurance company. They will probably want to get your story about how the accident happened and record your statement. Never do this.
The insurance adjusters’ job is to reduce what they pay you. That is why they contact the injured person promptly when their client is at fault. They know that most injured parties do not know how to negotiate a personal injury settlement. You may have lost a lot of money if they can get you to take a lowball settlement before you retain a lawyer.
So, if the other party’s insurance company calls you, do not answer. Or, reply and tell the adjuster that you have retained an attorney. Any communications about the case need to go through your personal injury lawyer. Anything you say to the insurance company will be used against you.
You will be asked how the accident happened. You should never say you were at fault; if you are asked about fault, do not answer. Also, tell the truth and do not offer opinions. If you do not know how fast you were going when the accident happened, just say you do not know. If you do not know when the accident happened, also say you do not know. If you make a guess about a part of the accident and it is wrong, it can put your whole story in doubt and make your attorney’s job harder.
If your personal injury attorney contacts you for more information, get back to her as soon as possible. Every delay in your response to your attorney will make the case take longer. Also, let her know if you have difficulty finding the information your attorney needs.
It is understandable if you want to tell friends and family about an accident and injury. Maybe you were hit by a car near Milwaukee Public Market or Discovery World. It is natural to want to talk about it.
However, any social media post about the case can affect the claim. The insurance company will be watching for reasons to deny your case or reduce the payout. This includes monitoring your social media feeds, even ones that you have set to ‘private.’ Almost nothing is private in social media!
Even something as minor as a photo of you smiling on a beach can be used against you in the settlement process. So, take a break from social media and make your attorney happy!
All the above actions can increase the odds of a successful personal injury claim. Giving your attorney every advantage makes you more likely to enjoy a financial settlement. Please contact our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys today at Martin Law Office, S.C., for assistance with your case.
