| 1. Be truthful to everyone about any physical limitation | | | | may give you a valid injury claim. |
| you now have. The truth will come out. | | | | 7. Video cameras can be hidden anywhere. You many |
| 2. Don't accept a check or sign a release from an | | | | not know you are being videotaped and it could be at |
| insurance company unlessyou know exactly what it | | | | anytime or in any place. I've seen this many times. So |
| covers. Sometimes insurance companies will attempt | | | | know that you'll have a problem if yousay that it hurts |
| toget you to release "any and all claims" - including | | | | for you to walk or stand, but then get videotaped |
| your injury claim - and lead youto believe that you are | | | | playing tennis. Ihad a client that claimed a serious back |
| only settling your claim for property damage. Check | | | | injury from a car accident but gotvideotaped at his |
| with anattorney if you're not certain. | | | | vacation home in Florida, spending six hours |
| 3. You must disclose all prior accident and injuries to | | | | resurfacing theasphalt on his driveway. His case was |
| your lawyer. It isalmost certain that the other insurance | | | | destroyed. |
| company will find out about this, because allaccident | | | | 8. Remember, never has an insurance company |
| information is shared by insurance companies in a | | | | adopted a policy of payingfair, speedy and just |
| central database. Theonly person who may be | | | | ompensation to persons injured through the fault of |
| surprised is your attorney, and this is never a good | | | | another(the insurance company's policyholder). The |
| thing. | | | | money is in the insurance company'spocket, earning |
| 4. Keep a daily "pain diary" detailing how you feel, | | | | interest in the bank, or profits from its investments. (Did |
| doctors and therapyappointments, medications taken | | | | you know that insurance companies generally make |
| and your inability to work. Don't depend on your | | | | more money per year on investedinsurance premiums |
| memory; it could take years for your case to be | | | | - in real estate and such - than on new premium |
| resolved. | | | | dollars received?) |
| 5. Don't try to "tough it out." See a doctor immediately | | | | A philosophical note: I try to be selective in the cases |
| after your accident. Be 100% open with your doctor: | | | | that my firm accepts, because I want to give personal |
| about how the accident occurred, and reveal anypast | | | | attention to my clients' cases to the greatest extent |
| accidents or medical conditions that may affect your | | | | possible. Every year I decline hundreds of cases. I |
| condition or healing. | | | | concentrate my efforts on increasing the value of |
| 6. There are few "can'ts" following an accident in real | | | | good cases, not finding and filing frivolous ones. I |
| life. In other words, most people recover the ability to | | | | believe that goodlawyers think this way. |
| perform most activities, unless they are bedridden. | | | | Another note: This report is not legal advice. I'm trying |
| Butgenerally, if they have limitations, it's because they | | | | to give you information tohelp you make informed |
| can't do the activity as long, ashard, as strongly as | | | | decisions. Investigate and check things out for yourself. |
| they used to. And your limitations, presented correctly, | | | | Get legal advice in person; face-to-face. |