Things to remember If You Are Injured

First, it is important to contact our law firm to receive immediate advice and consultation tailored to the specific personal injury you have suffered.

• Do not make statements to the person who injured you, their insurance company, investigators or adjusters, or to anyone without the consent and presence of your attorney! Clients may harm their case if they make statements which they might not think are harmful, but do in fact actually harm their case. This is particularly true when insurance companies want to make a recorded telephone interview or schedule an Examination under oath wither their attorney! If they have an attorney, you should too!
• Never sign a statement or an insurance release without first consulting an attorney. Often insurance investigators and adjusters will attempt to entice you with quick money settlements so that you will sign a release and give up your rights to get the full value of your injury.
• Remember that all doctors and medical personnel write down everything you say which can be used as evidence both for and against you! So be careful what you say to doctors and other medical personnel! Make sure you always tell them extensively all of the injuries, pain, and suffering that you are enduring from your particular accident. For example, say to your treating physician, “I am suffering from a broken leg from an auto accident.” If you leave out that you also had a broken arm, that could be used against you. If you leave out that your broken leg and arm are from an auto accident, the defense attorney may try and blame it on another past incident.
• Always tell doctors or medical personnel in only general terms how your injuries were caused. For example, say that you were injured “due to an auto accident” or “due to a defect at a store,” or “due to an on-the-job accident.” Do not go into much detail as such can be used against you. 
• If you have been injured at a business or store, report it to a manager and make an incident report. However, only give general details as to how the accident occurred such as: “I tripped on a defective sidewalk” or “I slipped on a wet floor” because any statement you make to them may be used against you. If the manager asks too many questions simply state that you wish to speak with an attorney before you answer any further questions.
• If you’re in an auto accident make a police report if possible and only generally tell the police officer how the other person caused the accident and that you were injured.
•  If possible get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of any witnesses.
• If possible take photographs of any defect that caused your injury, any injuries you suffered (e.g., bruises, cuts, swelling, casts, scars, etc.), and photos of your damaged vehicle if you were in a car accident.
• It is always very helpful to write down notes of exactly how an accident happened, the date, time, witnesses, injury suffered, etc. As your case progresses it is always recommended that you keep a diary of the pain and suffering endured, how the injury has affected your life through either insomnia, inability to do day to day activities (such as walking, playing sports, doing housework, etc.), humiliation, etc. These notes are helpful for your attorney and will be helpful to refresh your memory as to how the accident occurred and how you suffered.
• The above are a few general guidelines for your personal injury case. However, the soundest advice is to contact our law firm immediately so we may inform you of your rights and protect your rights to the fullest extent, gather evidence to preserve your claims, send experts to the scene of your accident if necessary, contact witnesses, photograph evidence, and aggressively pursue your claim!