The Beginning:

Once you have received medical treatment, the next step is to consult with a lawyer who can advise you on the law and your rights with respect to who you can seek damages from (compensation).   Most lawyers who handle injury cases will offer you a FREE consultation in which your case is discussed, evaluated, and either accepted or rejected.

Don’t Talk!

You have hired a lawyer to handle your claim. Don’t let insurance adjustors, investigators, or potential defendants pressure you into making statements on the telephone or agreeing to their leading questions (such as, you’re feeling better, right?) because if you do, your case may be significantly damaged by what you have said in the past.  Keep in mind that if you don’t talk to them, they can’t lie about what you said…

There is No Hurry

Lawyers will often we wait for a year or two before filing suit. During that period of time you have an opportunity to clearly see if your condition is fixed and stable. You also have the opportunity to see if any hidden injuries are going to come up. It is not necessary for you to settle your claim to get your car fixed/replaced, even through the insurance company might tell you otherwise. Remember their goal is to close the file (with a settlement and iron clad release of all claims preferably) so they may rush you to take the check, but remember the check has a string the size of a noose attached to it. Once the lawsuit is filed, you may have up to another two or three years before you get to trial so with all of that time, you can afford to wait for your condition to become fixed and stable.