What should I do if I’m in an accident?
When do I call an attorney?
What is my case worth?

Personal injury law is known as Tort Law. A tort is a private civil wrong, in which someone has caused injury to you or your property, either intentionally or negligently. The person who caused the injury generally must pay you for your injuries. Common types of personal injury claims include automobile accidents, slip and fall cases, wrongful death cases, and injury caused from defective products in which the manufacturer may be liable.

What should I do if I’m in an accident?
If you are in an accident and are able, you should trade appropriate information and answer questions presented to you by police officers. However, make no admissions. Be courteous and kind, but do not volunteer information.
You should also seek appropriate medical attention as soon as possible. It is not unusual to feel the effects of an accident the next day or several days later. If your body has been subject to trauma, it will hurt, even if your nervousness and adrenaline prevent you from immediately percieving your pain.
Get the names and addresses of all parties and witness including investigators or law enforcement officers. This information may or may not be listed in a police report. In fact, if the accident occurred on private property, as opposed to on a road, a police report may not be prepared at all. Accordingly, it is very important for you to obtain the names and addresses of any witnesses, who may be used later to back up your version of the accident.

When do I call an attorney?
Unfortunately, many people do not contact an attorney until they have dealt with an adjuster from an insurance company who treated them unfairly. By this time, they have often made statements, recorded and unrecorded, that may later be used against them.
If you are injured, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Personal injury attorneys are able to stand up for an injured person in dealing with the adjuster. Remember, no matter how polite and sympathetic an adjuster may appear when speaking to you, the adjuster is nonetheless a highly trained and skilled negotiator. It’s the adjuster’s job to try to settle the case as quickly as possible, and for as little as possible. By paying you less, the insurance company saves money and maximizes profits. An attorney who represents you, can negotiate on your behalf.

What is my case worth?
In resolving personal injury cases, you seek financial compensation for your loss and injury. Financial compensation is designed to make you whole. However, each case is different, and you should never compare your case to someone else’s.
The amount of financial compensation that you may be entitled to receive, depends in part on your losses and expenses. As the injured party, it is your responsibility to prove your losses and expenses. Your attorney may prove to be most valuable to you in establishing your damages.
You can best assist your attorney by keeping all receipts and invoices for expenses that are related to your injury. These include everything from prescription medication documentation to hospital and doctor bills. It is often a good idea to keep a log or diary. However, this shouldn’t be a personal diary. Rather, you should keep a log of important dates and events that occur from the date of the injury.
The value of your claim may also be based on liability. If the person who injured you is solely at fault, your claim will be more valuable than in a situation where you may be partially at fault. Other factors may also be important: How strong is your case? Can you prove it? What will it cost to prove?

Follow the advise of your health care professional!

Do not incur medical services just to beef up your medical expense. Such matters will be reviewed. Be aware also your health care providers or your personal insurance may have a right to payment before you are entitled to receive funds. This generally comes from your portion of the settlement.
In short, what might appear to be a simple case, can be quite complicated. An experienced attorney who represents your interest will work hard to obtain a fair result for you.