If you have injuries, no matter how slight they may initially appear, or have pain in any way, go to a doctor immediately.

It is important that you initially take care of yourself immediately. Keep detailed records of everything regarding your medical treatment. Be sure to let your attorney know about all of the treatment that you receive.

Hire a local personal injury attorney who can help you assess the value of your case, and help you get fair compensation based on that value.

One of the biggest mistakes people make in personal injury cases is not following through and not following the advice of your attorney and your doctor.

Without following such advice, it hurts your credibility with the insurance company and makes it difficult to negotiate a fair settlement of all that you may be legally entitled to in your personal injury case.

Just being able to say what is wrong with you and being able to describe the extent of your injuries to others in insufficient as evidence in a court of law without the documentation to back up your claim.

In these types of cases, you must begin in the beginning assuming that you will have to go to court and prove the extent of your damages with hard facts in evidence. Preparing your case for settlement only is a mistake. When you begin in the beginning piecing together all of your evidence systematically rather than just making claims, it will increase the value of your case whether or not your case actually ultimately goes to trial. Your attorney will, of course, help you do this.

Your lawyer and your doctors know what treatment and procedures are necessary to establish the scientific facts to make various types of claims and for fighting for you for a fair settlement in your case. What “hard” evidence you need for your case is largely determined by what type of case you have, and your lawyer will advise you of what you need to “prove up” into evidence at trial the claims that you are trying to make. Contact information of those involved in the accident, photographs of the scene, etc. will all be invaluable as your lawyer fights for a fair settlement in your personal injury case.

It is vital that, in addition to keeping good records of your medical treatment, you keep a detailed journal or diary during the time your case is pending through final settlement of trial regarding all of the ways that you’re the injuries you suffered have affected your life. This can often greatly increase the value of your case beyond just the bare medical bills.

This journal or diary should include detailed information about every person, place and thing related to the injuries you suffered. It is also important to document all of the “subtle” ways that your life has been affected day-to-day: any lost work, lost ability to perform normal tasks which were common in your every day life prior to your accident, etc. You are entitled to compensation which will make you as whole as possible and return you as much as possible to the position that you were in prior to the incident occurring.

Similarly, you should hold onto any reports made by police or investigators, medical bills, ambulance bills, prescription receipts, etc.

As discussed elsewhere in this site, this is one of the most common mistakes people make. Insurance companies will often go to great lengths to minimize the value of your claim of damages and to pay you as little as they can get away with, if allowed. Do not speak to anyone or make admissions of guilt or fault to anyone at the scene of your accident. Say you want to speak with an attorney and remain silent. Later, after the accident, do not speak with anyone else about the matter, either. Particularly do not discuss your case with any insurance company or any insurance carrier without consulting an attorney first.

Make all such statements through your chosen lawyer. Insurance companies will often attempt to record a telephone conversation with you on the phone where you are asked loaded questions that seem harmless, but can significantly hurt your case. Don’t speak with anyone else about your case while it is pending, either. The attorney you hire knows what can hurt your case and is looking out for your best interests, where an insurance company (don’t ever forget they are on the other side and often are trying to pay you as little as they can get away with) are not.