Benjamin Franklin once said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” and that idea is as true for personal injury lawsuits as it is for anything else. When you are injured in an accident that resulted from someone else’s negligence, and you need to hire a personal injury attorney to file a lawsuit to cover the cost of your treatment, you need to know how to prepare for your day in court.
Talk to Your Legal Team about What to Expect
If you are worried about how the process of your lawsuit is going to play out, the first thing that you should do is talk to your legal team. Your attorney will be able to tell you what you can expect. Ask your personal injury attorney to provide you with a timeline so that you understand when you need to file specific paperwork. Once you understand how the process works and what to anticipate, you will feel much more prepared.
Compile All the Evidence You Have
From the very moment you are injured, you need to be gathering evidence. Types of evidence can range from physical evidence, such as the object that injured you, to photographic evidence of the scene of the accident, to contact information for witnesses. These pieces of evidence are crucial for building a case against the person or persons responsible for your injury, so document and collect as much as you can. If you are not sure what will help your case, ask your personal injury attorney for help.
Don’t Do Anything to Jeopardize Your Case
You might think that your case is a slam dunk, but did you know that certain actions you take after your accident can be used against you in court? As I wrote about last month, if you are injured, and you post a photo of yourself having a good time on social media, you could be seriously hurting your chances of financial recovery. Even if your case is not thrown out as a result, you could be limiting the amount that you are entitled to by giving the other party ammunition.
Understand That a Settlement May Be Your Best Option
A trial is not always the best solution. Going through a trial is often a stressful experience that not everyone is up for. And sometimes you don’t stand a good chance in the courtroom. Sometimes it is in your best interest to take a settlement offer.
Before going to trial, you should discuss with your attorney what an acceptable settlement offer would look like. The absolute minimum you should accept will cover your medical expenses as well as any lost wages that resulted from your injury.
Stay Connected with Your Personal Injury Attorney
In the months, weeks, and days leading up to your case going to court, you need to know that you can get in touch with your attorney so that you can discuss any new developments. If you want a relationship that is transparent and collaborative, get in touch with us today.
