When you have a personal injury case, you trust your attorney to help you build the case and make sure it's filed properly. However, your actions also play a crucial part in helping your case. As your attorneys, we can only represent you well when you participate in the case and give us the tools to do so. That means we need your help. Here are a few tips to help us with your case:

1. Return calls and emails promptly – In many instances, we are working on a deadline in your case. That means when we contact you, you should assume that we need a prompt response. We may send you paperwork, which you should fill out and return to us as soon as possible. If we communicated via email or phone, get back to us as quickly as you can. Even if you call just to let us know you got the message, it's helpful in your case.
2. Communicate – When you're talking about your case, bring up everything that may be relevant. For instance, if you had an injury in the past and your new injury was in the same area, tell your lawyer so they're aware. You don't want your lawyer experiencing surprises when they're fighting for your compensation.
3. Keep us up-to-date on medical treatment – If you have a personal injury case with us, your medical treatment and medical records are incredibly important and largely determine whether or not you will be successful in your case. It is important to keep us informed of your ongoing medical treatment. Call us often to let us know about what doctors have told you, and certainly let us know when you are finished with your medical treatment.
4. Don't ignore medical treatment – It's imperative that you go to your medical appointments and tell the doctor everything that's ailing you. While you may feel like you have one main problem and some smaller problems, you should still mention every problem you're experiencing. If those smaller injuries aren't on your medical records, the insurance company may not take it as an injury that was caused by the collision.
5. Don't stop treatment – During your treatment, you will hopefully start to feel improvement. However, this may not mean you're fully healed. Follow through with the doctor's treatment plan and don't stop anything on your own accord. Always speak with your doctor before making these decisions. Stopping your treatment could halt your recovery process, or even cause a reinjury. This could complicate the legal process and what you can recover.
6. Let us know about all medical providers – At some point in your case, we will need to request all of the relevant medical records in your case. It is imperative that you provide us with the names, addresses, and phone numbers of your medical providers.
7. Health insurance information – Please make sure we have a copy of your driver's license, health insurance card, and Medicare or Medicaid card if you have one. In most instances, whoever paid your medical bills is going to be entitled to reimbursement. It is important we have this information during the course of the case to make sure someone doesn't come looking to you for money after your case is finalized.
8. Send us copies – It is important to send us copies of any medical statement, letter, or any other document related to your case – even if you think we already have access to it or don't need it. For example, your injury could have prevented you from going to work for a number of days. Keep a record of that so your lawyer will know the wages you've lost.
9. Keep a file – It is a good idea to keep a folder of all the documents in your case. If you don't have a folder, ask us for one.
10. Have patience – The legal process can take time. Between getting all the information to your lawyer so they can review it and build your case, it's important to be patient during the process. If you're wondering about how long something could take, your lawyer may be able to give you an estimate.
11. Be prepared for the case to go to trial – While many cases may be settled out of court, you may need to take your case to trial if the settlement offer is too low and we believe you have a strong chance of winning in the courtroom. When your case goes to trial, it's important to cooperate with your lawyer when they're gathering evidence. You'll also need to practice speaking in the courtroom. Your lawyer will prepare you on what to say so you feel confident in the courtroom.
12. If you have any questions, ASK! – Questions that are never asked are seldom answered. Please let us know during your case if you have any questions.

The Law offices of James F. Aspell, P.C. Can Help You

Our lawyer is dedicated to fighting for our clients' rights and getting them the compensation they deserve. We know from experience that when we work together and communicate, there's a better chance of the client receiving a more favorable outcome.