How to Develop an Effective Partnership with Your Injury Attorney

If you have been injured and you need to hire an attorney to help you secure damages, developing an effective partnership with your lawyer could be the difference between a just award and an unfair award. There are a few things you can do to help your case – and your attorney – move more efficiently and effectively through the process. We wanted to look at a few of these things today.

Arrive at your appointments on time

Always be prepared to show up for your appointments on time. You do not want to leave your attorney waiting around for you when there is a lot of work to do. There is nothing wrong with arriving at the office a bit before your appointment time. When you get to the office on time, you are showing your attorney that you are serious about your claim.

We know, though, that sometimes life gets in the way: a car accident a mile up the road creates a traffic jam, or your kids get sick at school and need to be sent home. When these types of things happen, make sure to call (or text) your lawyer right away, so you can explain what is happening, and potentially reschedule your visit.

Keep up with any deadlines

Just like it’s important to make it to meetings on time, it’s also important to meet any deadlines. Your personal injury attorney has to submit paperwork, conduct interviews and depositions, and request discovery all within a certain amount of time, in order to keep your claim open and active. So, if you are told that a certain piece of paperwork needs to be signed and submitted by a certain date, or that the firm needs information from you in order to proceed, make sure to meet those deadlines. It can negatively affect your case if you don’t.

Bring important documents with you

Making a claim – whether you file a lawsuit or not – involves a lot of paperwork. It is important that your attorney has copies of this paperwork: police reports, photos, copies of your medical records, etc.

Perhaps even more important, however, is any updated documentation you have. For example, if you undergo additional treatments for an injury a few months after you were hurt, your lawyer is going to need copies of those new bills and updated medical records. The treatments you receive, and the costs associated with them, are included in your claim for damages. If your attorney doesn’t know how much your injury has cost you so far (both in terms of payments and in terms of lost wages from work), he or she won’t be able to make an accurate assessment of the compensation you deserve.

Be honest and open

As the client of a personal injury attorney, you need to remain honest about the situation. If you are not being truthful, your lies can work against you in the courtroom, causing you to lose out on compensation that may have otherwise been awarded to you. Even if you did something wrong or were at fault in some way, you still need to tell your attorney about it. Being honest, open, and fully transparent with your attorney is the best way to reach a successful outcome. When your attorney asks you specific questions, answer those questions as truthfully as possible. You may not remember every last detail of the accident because of the injuries you sustained, but it is still good to tell your attorney everything you do remember.

Your Memphis personal injury lawyer is your partner in your goal to claim the damages you are owed. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we take that partnership seriously. If you have been hurt, we may be able to help you. Please call 901.475.7634, or complete the contact form to schedule a free initial consultation. We currently provide legal services to residents of Tennessee. Our offices are conveniently located in the cities of Memphis and Jackson.