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In Part I, the importance of retaining an experienced lawyer in Kingston, Ottawa, or Sudbury and being realistic with your demands was emphasized along with the necessity of documenting important details and recording your expenses. The following are additional suggestions for continuing towards your goal of maximizing your compensation in your personal injury case.
Continue with your medical care and treatments – your physician or healthcare provider has no doubt made recommendations for your recovery and aftercare. It is vital to your case that you continue following their instructions for further care and any additional treatment at this time. If not, this can paint a very confusing picture for the insurance companies and they may become suspicious that your injuries were not as serious as you portrayed them in the beginning of your case.
Consistency and corroboration – if you fail to be consistent with your complaints, it makes you look less credible and truthful to the insurance companies. When making notes regarding doctor visits, prescription medications you are taking, and so on, be very clear and use unambiguous language in your journal. This will also help your doctor with their documentation of any problems you were having.
Furthermore, you should corroborate with your family members, friends, co-workers, and other associates regarding your injuries, problems that have arisen, and medical treatment that ensued. Remember, on those people who are close to you will have any idea of your pain and suffering. These individuals may be called upon at a later point in time to confirm what you have told them.
Photos, photos, and more photos – one of the best ways that you can document your injuries is by taking photos – lots of them. For instance, if you have gained weight as a result of your injuries and your ensuing inactivity, you should take before and after photos to document this. Your lawyer may recommend a professional photographer to help you with this. This is a sure-shot proof about your injuries.
Think about the future – you should have long-term goals in place for what you are hoping to achieve with the compensation you are awarded in your personal injury case. An example of this would be the pursuit of another career field because you are unable to return to your former job because of your injuries. If you have to go back to school or undergo training, you should have the funds to do so.
Most importantly, be patient – you may, at some point, become frustrated and tense about how long your case is taking to settle. Don’t be overly anxious to settle and get it over with. The only times you should consider settling is when you have reached the optimum point of the recovery process or you have recovered and are enjoying the quality of life that you had prior to your accident and injuries.