One of the best things you can do if you are injured and seeking compensation is to hire an attorney to pursue your personal injury or workers’ compensation claim. However, just because someone else is taking the lead on your case doesn’t mean that you should expect to be hands-off until you receive an award. In fact, you can help your case move along faster and even earn a bigger award if you are proactive throughout the duration of your case. We explain how you can do that in today’s blog.
How To Be Proactive During Your Injury Case
As we mentioned during the introduction, if you just assume your lawyer is going to handle all aspects of your case, delays or inaccuracies can occur because your lawyer is still relying on you for some critical information. Don’t get us wrong, we’re still filing all the paperwork and developing the case, but you still have some information that we need, so being proactive in getting your lawyer this information will only help speed up your case. Here’s a look at some examples of being proactive:
Injury Updates/Medical Expenses – Your lawyer needs to be kept in the loop in regards to your injury, your recovery and your expenses. If things have gotten worse and you needed additional medical care, this will affect your claim award. Your award is typically based on your current and expected future medical expenses, so your lawyer relies on the most up to date information to develop an accurate claim. Don’t make them chase this information down. If there’s a change or a new expense, keep them updated.
Other Out Of Pocket Expenses – Medical expenses aren’t the only expenses you’ll want to record and pass on to your lawyer. As we’ve mentioned in other blogs, you can get compensation for things like replacement services or assistive devices that you need in the wake of an injury. If you need someone to come clean your house because you can no longer do it after your injury, or you had to have a ramp installed to access your home, these expenses can be recouped through an injury claim. Keep a log of any expenses related to your injury in any way, and pass them on to your lawyer.
Report and Hire – In this blog we assume that you already have a lawyer, but let’s take a step back and talk about the first few hours and days after your injury. It’s imperative that you report your injury as soon as possible after the accident so that it can be documented. If you delay, the insurance company may think that you either weren’t hurt all that bad, or you were hurt in a different manner and are trying to pass it off in order to receive compensation. There are also deadlines for reporting and starting an injury claim, so don’t delay. It’s also important to talk to a lawyer shortly after the injury to start the claims process, not just because of deadlines, but also because it’s easier to collect evidence from an incident that is two days old compared to two weeks old. Be proactive, report your injury and talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after an injury.
Responsive To Your Lawyer – Finally, it’s also important to realize that your lawyer will likely reach out at points during your case to get information or to provide you with key updates. Don’t make them chase you down or wait days for a response, as this can lead to delays in your case. A good rule of thumb for both sides is to always respond within 24 hours of a message or call. You’d want them to get back to you as soon as possible, so return the favor when they need some information from you.
If you keep the above tips in mind, we’re confident that your case should go smoothly and you’ll be giving yourself the best chance at maximizing your award. For more information or for help with your injury case, reach out to the team of lawyers at Hey Workers today.
