Been Injured In An Accident? 3 Questions Your Personal Injury Attorney May Ask

1 November 2016
 Categories: Law, Blog

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If you've been involved in an accident, you need to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. This is particularly true if you're having a difficult time communicating with the insurance company. As an accident victim, you have certain rights – such as medical care and compensation for your injuries. To make sure that you receive the compensation you're entitled to, you'll need to be open and honest in your communication with your attorney. That means you'll need to tell your attorney everything you can about the incident, as well as information that might be important to the case. Here are three questions your attorney may ask during the initial interview.

Have You Been Involved in Previous Accidents?

When you're speaking to your attorney, they may ask about any previous accidents you might have been involved in. If you've been injured in previous accidents, it's important that you provide as many details of those events as possible. The insurance company will be investigating previous accidents to see if the injuries could be related. Failure to disclose that information to your attorney could make it difficult for them to negotiate a fair settlement for you.

Have You Filed for Bankruptcy?

This might not seem pertinent to your accident claim, but it is. If you've filed for bankruptcy, or plan on filing in the future, the courts could require you to use your settlement to clear up your debt. Hiding the settlement could result in it being seized by the bankruptcy court. However, if you tell your attorney about the bankruptcy, they can work to ensure that only a portion of the settlement be used to pay off your debt.

Do You Have a Criminal Record?

If you have a criminal record, you need to share the details with your attorney as soon as possible. In most cases, the details of your criminal record won't affect your injury claim. However, failure to disclose the information could leave your attorney at a disadvantage if the insurance company tries to use your criminal record against you. Providing the information up front will give your attorney the opportunity to form a proper defense for you.

If you've been injured in an accident, you need to hire an attorney. The insurance company is going to work hard against you. The information provided here will help you prepare for the questions that your attorney might ask you. If you have any questions or concerns about your accident claim, be sure to speak to your attorney. Contact a firm like Kaston & Aberle to learn more.