Thursday, December 10, 2009

Personal Injury Cases

By Tony Garrudo

When meeting with a possible personal injury client initially, instruct him to keep in constant contact with you with any pertinent case history. It is critical to start working on the file right away to best serve the plaintiff as well as to reinforce the importance of your services. Repeatedly admonish your client not to talk to anyone regarding the civil case except the authorities, without your express permission.

The complainant must be made aware of the need for an investigator to take pictures of any and all important items before they are tampered with.

Third-party witnesses must be interviewed as soon as. The scene of the accident must be reviewed and photograph before it is altered. Remind your client that torn and blood-stained garments or other evidences must not be thrown away at the hospital. Bruises and other physical manifestations of the injury must be photographed immediately.

The injured person must be reminded that insurance company's primary concern is to defend a claim for damages rather than getting any funds for the insured for personal injury. The defendant must be told that the letter of claim begins a timetable and acknowledgement of receipt of letter must be within 21 days. The letter of claim must be sent in duplicate and the defendant requested to send a copy to the insurance company. Ensure that the medical records are accurate and has been fully reviewed by your client. Allocate enough time for the review of medical records. Keep in mind that insurance companies pay much more attention to a report that comes from a doctor rather than from a nonphysician.

Remind the client orally and in writing that "based on the facts as they appear in the present time, it appears that he has a meritorious case. That is why, it is impossible to value the case until the full extent of personal injury, the need for treatment, damages, and losses are known.

About the Author:

No comments: