Suppose you're involved in a Florida personal injury lawsuit or thinking about hiring a lawyer to help you with an accident claim. In that case, you should be aware that the attorney-client relationship is critical and should be open and transparent.
It can be not very comforting to work with a lawyer, but it doesn't have to be. An experienced personal injury lawyer will put you at ease and respect you. The attorney-client relationship requires that both parties be honest with one another and work together to communicate all relevant details of a case. If you're honest with your lawyer and tell him (or her) everything he needs to know, he'll have more information to make informed decisions during the case, which will benefit everyone. Remember that secrecy is an element of the attorney-client privilege. Anything you tell your attorney is secret, and they are not allowed to share it with anyone else.
Here are a few things your lawyer should be aware of during your injury case. These factors can influence a lawyer's strategy throughout a personal injury claim. Therefore, you must be mindful of the characteristics of a lawyer as soon as feasible.
- Previous accident injuries
Tell your lawyer about any previous injuries you've sustained in an accident. Suppose an insurance adjuster tries to dismiss your claim. In that case, they may claim that your current injuries are the result of previous injuries or accidents, not the most recent accident, which your lawyer must be able to refute.
- Criminal History
Inform him of your criminal record. Misdemeanors and felonies will usually have no bearing on your case (unless they are related to driving). Still, they may come up during trial because insurance company lawyers conduct background checks. Therefore, you need your lawyer to have all the information the opposing counsel must prepare.
You must inform your Southfield MI personal injury attorney if you have any criminal convictions, whether felonies or misdemeanors. Insurance firms often do background checks on claims, even if the beliefs aren't relevant to your case. A personal injury lawsuit may not be the most excellent option if you appear as an untrustworthy witness or an unsympathetic victim. Instead, your lawyer can suggest a settlement or personal injury mediation.
- Filed for Bankruptcy
If you've filed for bankruptcy, let your lawyer know. If you file during your injury lawsuit, your settlement may become part of the estate (i.e., your creditors will get the money, not you). If you tell your injury lawyer, he can negotiate with your bankruptcy lawyer to bring you a percentage of the settlement.
If you file for bankruptcy while your injury case is pending, any reward you get could be included in your bankruptcy estate and used to pay your creditors. However, if you tell your injury lawyer about it, he might be able to work with the bankruptcy lawyer to keep a portion of the payment for yourself.
- Filed for divorce
Let your lawyer know if you've filed or plan to file for divorce. For example, if your spouse supported you after your injury, they may be entitled to some of your obtained damages. In that case, the attorney can ensure that he receives fair compensation.
- Suffered any injuries
If you've had any injuries after the accident, tell your lawyer. Opposing counsel may suggest that you seek compensation for damages unconnected to the accident claim you have filed. In that situation, your lawyer will have to refute it.
Notify your injury lawyer if you have previously hurt the same portion of your body where you have injuries again. Although having a pre-existing injury does not automatically disqualify you from collecting compensation, the insurance company will almost certainly learn about it. The top personal injury attorneys will be able to take this information, obtain old medical records, and distinguish between your past and current ailments. In most cases, if your previous injury has healed and the accident caused new damage to the same body area or worsened your pre-existing injury, you may still be eligible for compensation.
- You're partially at fault.
You can still collect compensation for losses sustained in a personal injury accident in Michigan under the modified comparative fault rule if you are not 50 per cent or more at fault for the accident. However, your potential award will decrease by your level of negligence. For example, if you are determined to be 20% at fault and have incurred $100,000 in damages, you will only be able to recover $80,000.
Contact a Daytona beach personal injury lawyer.
Because the claims procedure can be pretty tricky in a personal injury case, working with an attorney can be highly beneficial. However, an injury attorney can only do so much without the client's full assistance. Therefore, keep your injury lawyer up to date as much as possible if you have a personal injury case.