What To Do If You've Been Injured.

If you have been injured in an accident, whether it is an auto accident, you have fallen or been injured on someone's property or even a medical malpractice injury you need to follow these steps carefully.

 

Chet Zawalich Guidelines for People Who Have Been Injured

 

WHO YOU SHOULD TALK TO
Do not talk about your injuries or your case with anyone except your attorney, your attorney's staff or you own doctor. Talking to anyone else could weaken any potential case you might have.

 

 

WHAT YOU SHOULD/SHOULD NOT SIGN

DO NOT sign anything until you have talked with or had a face to face conference with your attorney. By signing the wrong document you can certainly hurt your own case and lessen the odds of having a fair financial recovery.

 

PEOPLE WHO CALL YOU

If anyone calls you and asks you about your case, politely inform them that your lawyer DOES NOT want you to talk about your injuries or your case. Feel free to give them your lawyer's name and phone number.

 

KEEP YOUR ATTORNEY INFORMED 

If you move or get a new phone number, immediately contact your attorney with your latest information. Your attorney may have valuable information, need information or need to be in contact regarding your case, so it is vital that they have your contact information and that it is current.

Also, contact your attorney or their staff with any information that comes your way regarding your case. It may make a difference, it may not. However, it is always wise to keep your attorney informed.

 

MAINTAINING MEDICAL ITEMS 

Save all medical items that you get including:

Pill Bottles

Prescriptions

Casts & Braces
Medical Bills, Invoices & Statements

All other items that you get from your doctor, the pharmacy, hospitals and/or medical centers

 

JOB & OCCUPATIONAL CHANGES 

If your job changes in any way, if your job duties change, if your hours change or the number of hours you work changes, contact your attorney immediately and inform them of the changes. Also if you change jobs contact your attorney and advise them of the change. Again this could be important to your health and/or your case.

 

DO NOT FILE REPORTS  

DO NOT file any type of reports with anyone or for any reason until you have first contacted your attorney's office and asked them if you should. This is a common mistake made by injured people that sometimes can hurt their cases.

 

DO WHAT YOUR DOCTOR ADVISES YOU TO DO  

DO NOT EVER MISS DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS. There is never a good excuse or reason to miss a doctor appointment. By not showing up to scheduled medical appointments it could be interpreted as a sign that you are not really hurt, or not really hurt that bad. By not showing up doctors may believe that you are not hurt or do not care. It is very important for you to work toward getting better and part of getting better is following doctor's orders and showing up timely for scheduled appointments.

 

Remember that the Success of your case depends on several factors including following the rules I have set forth above. If you have questions regarding your personal injury case, please feel free to call me personally.

 

Chet Zawalich