When you file a personal injury lawsuit, your lawyer will do most of the heavy lifting. Their job is to handle the filings, communication with the defense, organizing evidence and more. As the victim, one of the best things you can to do support your attorney is follow their legal advice to the letter.
Some plaintiffs feel helpless, which is understandable, and want to try to help if they can. While you should leave the majority of the work to your lawyer, there are a few things that you can do to help ensure your case is as strong as possible.
- Share your evidence with your attorney. Depending on the type of claim you’ve filed, you or a bystander may have had the opportunity to take photos of the scene, damage or injuries. If you have prior communications with the opposing party or parties, medical records, eyewitness statements or other helpful information, share that evidence with your attorney. Even if you think it won’t help, let your attorney be the judge.
- Let your attorney handle communications. You should not contact opposing parties or insurance adjusters while your case is being litigated. Some insurance claims adjusters have no qualms about contacting plaintiffs to try to get them to admit fault, accept a smaller settlement or other ethically dubious goals. The best way to handle this is to refer all case-related communications to your attorney. Be skeptical of calls, emails and other communications from people you don’t know.
- Keep your social media presence locked down. Anything you post online can be used against you in court. Keep your social media profiles private and avoid posting anything that could give the impression your injuries aren’t as severe as they are. Ask your friends not to share anything about your accident or you, too. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
- Focus on healing. Finally, make sure that you focus on your own healing. Personal injuries can be devastating, and you’ll need to devote much of your energy to getting better. If possible, keeping a detailed injury journal will help your attorney. Track your recovery day by day, including pain levels, medications you’re taking, side effects, physical limitations and other important information. This will help support your request for compensation.
These four things will go a long way toward getting great results. Most importantly, always defer to your attorney’s advice.
Discuss Your Case with an Ohio Personal Injury Attorney
Have you been injured due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness? Call me at 877.944.4373. I’ll help you explore your legal options. If I take on your case, I’ll Make Them Pay!®.
