5 Ways to Help Your Lawyer Win Your Case

After an accident or injury that wasn’t your fault, you’ll need help when it comes to getting compensated. The odds of getting compensation are often stacked against innocent victims, as insurance companies have spent decades perfecting the art of reducing and denying otherwise valid claims. To level the playing field, you need a lawyer, and the sooner you call one, the better. Having a lawyer on your side means you’ll have an advocate to compile evidence that proves you weren’t at fault, calculate your damages, and build a convincing claim to get you paid. However, it can make your lawyer’s job easier, and potentially finalize your case much faster, if they don’t have to deal with potential setbacks or significant time crunches. There are several things you can do to help your lawyer in this way.

Follow These Steps to Improve Your Claim’s Chances of Success

At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, we know that injured victims like you are in pain after your accident, and you have many things to worry about. That’s why when you hire us, we take over handling communication with the insurance company and dealing with the paperwork and legal system. But the more you’re able to do before you contact us—and even while your claim is being built—the greater your chances will be of getting the compensation you deserve. Five important steps that can make a big difference in your claim’s outcome include:

1. Don’t Wait to File: The statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Ohio is just two years. You may think that’s a lot of time, but in the legal world, it’s not much time at all. You could lose valuable months before your injuries are even properly diagnosed or while you’re stuck in negotiations with the insurance company. Waiting too long to call a lawyer can also mean that evidence will disappear for good, making it more difficult to prove what happened.
2. Document Everything: After the accident, if possible, get:
   • Witnesses’ contact information,
   • The contact information of the potentially negligent party,
   • Photos of the accident scene and injuries (time stamps will help prove when the injuries occurred),
   • The police report number and badge number of the responding officer,
   • Receipts for medical costs and vehicle repair costs, and
   • Anything and everything related to your accident.

Your lawyer may be able to request some of this evidence and information from other sources, but having it on hand as soon as your claim process begins can give your lawyer a head start.

3. Be Honest: Don’t stretch the truth or guess about the circumstances of your accident, such as how fast the other driver was going before your crash. Never exaggerate, lie about, or even downplay the severity of your injuries, as the insurance company will compare your statements to your medical records. Whether about how the crash happened or how your injuries affect your daily life, conflicting details will cast doubt on the rest of your claim, even if you didn’t deliberately omit or misstate anything.
4. Attend All Medical Appointments: Your medical appointments are valuable evidence of the origin and seriousness of your injuries! If you miss appointments, the insurer will assume your injuries are not as debilitating or painful as stated, and this could reduce your settlement. In addition, you should always follow your doctor’s advice. If you don’t do what they say, the insurance company may deny your claim on the grounds that you aren’t taking the necessary steps to recover from your injuries.
5. Stay Off of Social Media: The insurance company doesn’t want to pay your claim. It will find every reason to shift the blame for your accident onto you to justify a smaller payout or deny your claim altogether. If your social media posts suggest you were fully or partially responsible for the accident, or photos suggest you aren’t as injured as you really are, they will be used against you. To avoid potential setbacks, avoid using social media altogether until your case concludes.

Following these five tips can significantly improve your chances of success. At Nurenberg, Paris, Heller & McCarthy, our Ohio personal injury lawyers aren’t afraid to go to trial when initial settlement offers aren’t enough to cover our clients’ accident-related expenses. We know what victims like you are going through after serious accidents, and we believe that nobody who is injured because of someone else’s negligence should have to pay out of pocket for their own medical bills and lost wages. Trust our experience and our dedication to our clients. We’ve helped injured Ohioans for nearly a century, and we know what it takes to win. Our lawyers are passionate about assisting people who need legal help, and we will work with you every step of the way to ensure your needs are met. Have questions about a potential injury claim? Ready to get started on the path to compensation? Call us today at 216-621-2300 for a free case review.

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