What You, As A Personal Injury Client Should Know

1. Insurance Companies do not pay money willingly. The insurance company can be expected to thoroughly investigate the facts of your accident, the claim for medical treatment, and any past injuries or claims. The insurance company will obtain copies of all past medical records.

2. The insurance company may hire a private investigator to take movies of any physical activity that you may engage in. The insurance company may even lay a trap for you, such as attempting to hire you to do physical activity, causing a flat tire, or placing something in the yard that will need to be lifted, etc.

3. The insurance company may hire a private investigator who may carry a concealed tape recorder in talking to you or to your friends. You should not discuss your case with anyone, including friends.

4. It will help your case to disclose any PRIOR INJURY OR ANY PRIOR PAIN to any parts of your body. Many good cases are lost by the injured person trying to conceal or forgetting a previous injury.

5. Insurance companies keep a record of any and all claims against any insurance company. The insurance company is sure to find out if you have ever made a previous claim.

6. Slowly and carefully tell your treating doctors all of your complaints. This should be done even if you think your complaint is outside the specialty of this doctor (example, tell your orthopedic surgeon about your headaches or memory loss). The doctor's records can only be as complete as what you tell the doctors. Don't tell your doctor that you "feel fine", when you didn't feel fine an hour before or a day before.

7. Keep an accurate record of all days lost from work because of your injuries.

8. Obtain and keep duplicate copies of all medical, hospital and drug bills. Also keep records of any other expenses you may have in connection with your accident, such as the hiring of extra help. You should keep a list of all your medical bills and the costs incurred in going to your doctor.

9. It may be necessary some day to have friends, neighbors, or co-workers testify regarding your disability and pain and suffering, therefore start thinking about the witnesses you may need in the future. It is best if these witnesses knew you before the accident.

10. If your case is a motor vehicle accident, your own auto insurance is primary. Have your own auto insurance carrier, (PIP) pay 80% of the bills. If you have medical payment provisions of your policy as possible it should pay the other 20% of your bills. Your health insurance will pay medical bills not paid by your auto insurance. Medicaid, Medicare are the last payors.

11. It sometimes takes many months to settle a claim and even up to one to two years if the case is in litigation. In fact, it is dangerous to settle certain types of claims too soon because it often takes a long time for the full extent of serious injuries to become evident.