Personal injury is a devastating experience for both you and anyone who depends on your income and ability to take care of things around the house. Most people don’t realize how debilitating it is until they face it. If you are in this situation, find a good lawyer and read the following article; both will help you through.
If you lost income as a result of your injuries, you will need proof for court. Speak with your employer and ask them to give you a statement that outlines how much money you earn and how many days of work you missed because of what happened to you. Depending on whether you earn an hourly wage or not, your income tax return could also be valuable documentation to bring with you.
Do your best to stick with local personal injury attorneys. Generally speaking, local attorneys are more accountable to you and that can lead to you being more satisfied with what they do. You also won’t have to make long distance calls, you can have quicker communication, and you can meet with them easier.
At your first meeting with your personal injury lawyer, bring anything that you think is relevant to your case. For example, if the police were involved, bring a copy of their report. If you have spoken with your insurance company, bring any notes that detail what happened with them. All of this information will help your attorney start piecing together your case.
Never hire a divorce lawyer to oversee your personal injury case. This may seem like common sense, but many people feel that the lawyer they’ve already dealt with is great, so why not get them to help? Instead, ask them for a referral for someone who specializes in this type of law.
Cooperation and communication are key when hiring any type of lawyer. Do not work with someone that you don’t feel is listening to you. In addition, if the lawyer will not sign a retainer agreement, you should move on to someone else. This agreement is what outlines how much their services will cost you, and it is important to have that detail settled as soon as possible.
If you were injured by an animal, do your best to find out who it belongs to. If you make any mistake about who the owner is, and you file a suit, it may be difficult to sue someone else once it is revealed that this is not the owner.
Look for a personal injury lawyer that you can like. You may be thinking business is business and why should liking someone be a part of it. But remember: you’ll be spending a lot of time and energy together and the entire process can be stressful. It’ll be much easier to deal with if you like your lawyer.
Personal injury can stop a life in its tracks; you’re no longer able to do anything the way you once did. Make sure you don’t suffer more than you have to by going it alone in court. Use the above information along with hiring a top-notch lawyer. The outcome of your case could affect you for life.