When a person has been injured, whether in a car accident, slip and fall or otherwise, he or she experiences effects far beyond the pain associated with the injury. The implications of a personal injury can be far-reaching and affect your ability to work, cause financial hardship and enjoy time with friends and family. The attorneys of Collins & Hyman care about each personal injury client’s case, and will use their experience in the courtroom and as negotiators to ensure that those clients are compensated for the pain and financial loss they experience.
If you have been injured, please call Collins & Hyman as soon as possible so that our experienced attorneys can lift the burden of dealing with insurance companies and begin collecting the information necessary to handle your case. In the meantime, the following is information you need to know:
- Do not accept any offers from or sign any documents from the insurance companies. If you agree to a settlement with the insurer before seeking the advice of an attorney, you will be required to sign a release, which will prevent you from making any claim against the party at fault. What the insurance companies will not tell you is that injuries may take days, even weeks to appear. Once you sign a release, you could be barred from making a claim for injuries you become aware of later.
- Do not make any statements to the insurance company until you have spoken with an attorney. They will call you, perhaps very often; however, anything you say can be used against you later. Don’t get taken advantage of by the insurance companies. The person calling you may not be a bad person, but he/she is employed to get the case settled for the least amount of money possible.
Personal injury cases often take months, if not years, to go to trial (depending on many factors including the speed in which you are able to recover). Memories may fade over time. As such, keeping a journal or diary of your experiences from the moment of injury will be extremely helpful to you and your case. Start by detailing the injury itself; then keep notes on all medical care you have to go through; lastly, keep a daily account of the things you can and cannot do during the days/weeks/months after the injury.