So, you were injured in an accident and sustained serious, life-altering injuries. You are automatically entitled to a settlement, right? Wrong. Unfortunately, knowing that you are injured is not enough to win your lawsuit. Rather, you need to prove that you are injured and that the defendant caused your injuries. While that may seem simple enough, proving substantial injuries and causation is not so simple. Though a skilled personal injury lawyer can help with the bulk of your case, you can increase your odds of winning by taking care of a few matters on your end. Here are four things you can do in order to prove that you are injured and that your injuries have resulted in monetary damages.
Get Medical Treatment
You will have a hard time proving serious injuries if you do not seek medical treatment. People get medical treatment when they are hurt, end of story. If you do not, and if you do not have medical records backing up your complaints, the defendant’s attorney will have an easy time of painting you as an over-exaggerator or even a flat-out liar. Prevent this from happening and seek medical treatment as soon after the accident as possible, even if you do not have any noticeable injuries.
Be Descriptive
When describing your symptoms, do not hold back for fear of coming off as “complaining.” Be descriptive, and identify everything from where you are in pain to what it feels like. Discuss how frequently you are in pain, and the different levels of pain you feel throughout the day. For instance, if you suffer a dull backache most of the day but sharp, burning pain in the mornings, mention it. The more descriptive you are, the more likely the jury and/or insurance company representatives are to believe that you are seriously injured.
Be Consistent and Accurate With Your Medical History
Many plaintiffs do not realize how crucial their medical history is to their cases, which is why many have a hard time recovering compensation. When filling out your medical records, discuss the symptoms you are not only feeling at the moment, but those that you experienced since the accident happened. If any part of you feels different post-accident, communicate that. However, remember every symptom you complain of, as you will need to communicate the exact same ones from one doctor to the next. If there are discrepancies in your accounts, the defendant’s lawyer is bound to use them against you.
In addition to remaining consistent with your medical records, you also want to be accurate. If you had back pain before your accident, you need to let your doctor know that, otherwise you risk coming off as disingenuous. Though there is the risk that the defendant’s lawyer will try to say that your claimed injuries are preexisting, the jurors will look more favorably upon you if you are just honest from the get-go.
Communicate With Your Attorney
Whether you plan on switching medical providers or undergoing a major surgery, you need to let your attorney know. Your lawyer is working hard to ensure an optimal outcome to your case. You may make his or her job exponentially harder if you fail to let him or her in on any significant medical changes. Being open and honest can go a long way toward obtaining a successful outcome.
Get Financing in the Meantime
Personal injury cases do not settle overnight. If your injuries are not fully recognized, or if you have yet to obtain a prognosis from your doctor, you may find yourself waiting years for a settlement. In the meantime, you still need to be able to pay for both your living expenses and your medical expenses. Capital Financing can help you do that.
Capital Financing provides personal injury cash advances from as low as 00 to as high as $100,000. Get the financial assistance you need pre-settlement and call our office today.