Documenting Your Personal Injury

by Nephi Malit

When filing a personal injury lawsuit, documentation is very important. A serious injury can be life-changing. It can leave you with a disability, and unable to work for months or even years. The medical expenses from a serious injury, coupled with an inability to work or generate income for an extended period of time, can also cripple you financially. It is imperative that you keep a complete record of all matters that pertain to your injury, to facilitate your filing of a personal injury claim. A personal injury lawyer can help you figure out what documentation or evidence you need to support your claim.

When documenting your personal injury case, don't forget important things like:

Your first-hand account of the timeline of events that led to your injury. It is important to do this as soon as possible, while the memory is still fresh. Do not neglect more immediate needs, however, such as medical treatment. It is also a good idea to write down as much as you can as right after the accident, and then review it later on, when you are no longer in a state of shock or confusion. It may also help to talk to others you have told about the incident, if you are trying to make sense of something you have written earlier.

A list of all your medical appointments. Be sure to include the time and date of each and every appointment. For each item, also write down the location of your appointment, and a brief description describing the reason for your visit. Take note of the name of all the physicians and health care professionals you have seen since your injury.

Keep a record of all surgeries performed on you. In your record, include the reason for the surgery, the hospital or clinic where the surgery was performed, and who the doctors or surgeons who operated on you were.

Properly document all medical expenses. Keep the original copies of all receipts. Document how much you've spent for medication, co-pays, surgical procedures, medical tests, transportation costs to and from the hospital, etc.

Keep a journal on your condition. In your journal entries, state how you feel, and how your condition is improving or deteriorating. Document everything. If you feel an ache or a pain, document it. This record may prove useful when proving that an injury that surfaces later on was directly caused by the accident.

About the Author
In any personal injury case, it is important to always get legal representation. A specialized personal injury lawyer will know how to gather data and evidence, how to deal with insurance companies, and, if things come to court, how to best present your case. If you need a Orange County personal injury lawyer , you will want only the best attorney representing you. Joseph Tosti has been practicing personal injury law for over two decades, and has won huge victories in the personal injury lawsuit arena. Visit californiaaccident-injuryattorneys.com to learn

Personal Injury Lawyer Seattle Warns About Distracted Drivers

by Kenneth Bills

When you pass drivers on the roadways, who are driving with one hand on the wheel and the other hand on their cellular phone, you have every right to be concerned, warns personal injury lawyer Seattle. Technology gadgets meant to provide the driving public easy access convenience while driving is a very real problem. With the increase in gadgets and apps etcetera there has been an equal rise in grave injuries and too many deaths related to automobile accidents due to technologically distracted drivers, often teenagers.

Although cellular phones have been a regular driver distraction for well over a decade, lately, other high-technology distractions like cellular phone cameras, MP3 players, text-messaging, satellite radios, global positioning systems, and e-mail, are also beginning to add to road and freeway accidents, injuries and again, tragically, deaths.

Grippingly, researchers have noticed these devices appeal to young and older drivers in a similar way often utilizing more than one of these technologies at a time, while they are driving. Even though, younger drivers use these technologies more. This alone is cause for anxiety since younger drivers are over and over again, linked with riskier and deadlier driving behaviors than elder adults.

There are police reports where text messages were sent from the driver's phone minutes before accidents while responses were gotten seconds before 911 calls to report accidents. Unhappily, all of the occupants in some automobiles die in the accidents. It is estimated that between 13 to 46 percent of all teen drivers text while driving.

At present, most state laws governing the use of cell phones and other high-tech devices while driving have been gradually developing and increasing as the troubles caused by their use. Countless states currently control cellular phone use in a variety of ways. Some totally disallow the use of cellular phones while driving, some order the use of cellular phones, while other states list age categories or certain jobs that are banned from driving under the influence of cellular phones.

The consequences of teen drivers driving with distractions are quite scary, according to personal injury lawyer Seattle. Not to mention, can you imagine the catastrophe could arise from a tractor trailer driver who would become distracted by these devices? Many semi truck drivers use an array of communication devices are obtainable inside of their cabs like e-mail, satellite load tracking, voice mail, and other truck fleet management tools. a number of government powers that be are allowing semi truck drivers to log their miles electronically via a satellite communication method inside the truck.

As you can see, there are innumerable dangers existing due to distracted drivers. As a society, we have to be conscious of the hazard use of these devices while driving creates, choose not to do this ourselves, while taking a hands-on role in encouraging others not to utilize them, while we all are driving. Let's not wait, cautions a personal injury lawyer Seattle, until grave injury or deaths occur, to take action in opposition to an extremely escapable problem. If you have been gravely injured by a technologically distracted driver, contact personal injury lawyer Seattle, to talk about all your legal options.

About the Author
The Advocates Driggs, Bills & Day, PLLC
206-452-4200
2200 Alaskan Way Suite 400
Seattle, Washington 98121

Suing For Personal Injury

by Nephi Malit

A broken or severed limb, facial scarring or disfigurement, a chronic illness developed due to unsafe work conditions: all these have two things in common. They are all injuries that can drastically change your life; and all too often, the victim has another party's negligence or incompetence to blame. If a relationship of blame can be established between the negligent party and the injury, the sufferer of the injury may have the right to monetary compensation for their troubles.
One of the most serious mistakes any personal injury claimant can make is to file or collect a claim without first consulting a legal professional, especially when the party who is liable has legal representation. Doing so is setting oneself up for disaster. The legal system is a complicated process, and a layperson may not be able to represent his or her interests best. As a result, victims who choose to file without legal representation may be pressured into an out-of-court settlement, be forced to settle for a significantly lower amount of compensation, or may even be deprived of compensation altogether. For these reasons, it is imperative that a victim seek legal help. A personal injury attorney may be able to help a victim answer the following questions:

Who is to blame for my injury?
A legal professional, like an Irvine personal injury attorney, may be able to help you determine who to sue. At times, it may not be as obvious as you think, and as a layperson, you may overlook certain aspects of your case, resulting in monetary compensation that is significantly less than what you could have received with legal help.

What is the full extent of the effects of my injuries?
In order to receive maximum compensation, it is important to know exactly what you will be demanding compensation for. Medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, pain and suffering: all these factor into how your compensation will be computed.

Can blame be established in court?
Sometimes establishing blame is not a simple matter. Even if you know for sure who is at fault, if your case stands on shaky legal ground, some defendants may try to absolve themselves of responsibility concerning your injuries. It is important to hire an accident lawyer who will make sure that fault is established and compensation is given.

If my personal injury suit is successful, how much to I stand to receive?
Another important consideration when deciding whether or not to sue, the amount of compensation you may stand to receive is an issue that may answer other questions, like the practicality of a lawsuit, and whether it is worth your time, money, and effort.

Should I agree to an out-of-court settlement?
Sometimes, the liable party (or their insurer) will offer an out-of-court settlement to (a) avoid costly and time-consuming court proceedings, (b) avoid bad publicity, (c) avoid attention that may result in getting hit with similar lawsuits in the future, (d) pressure you with a "take-it-or-leave-it" approach, or (e) avoid paying larger amounts for compensation that their legal counselors assessed were a possibility, should your case reach court. Although time is of the essence when it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit, you should never hastily sign an out-of-court settlement without getting legal advice first. A personal injury attorney can help you decide whether an out-of-court settlement is a good choice.

What documents/evidence should I prepare?
It is important that you carefully document everything concerning your case. Keep track of the state of your injuries, take note of any pain or symptoms you may feel, keep medical receipts, and take relevant photographs. A personal injury lawyer can help give you advice on how to gather evidence and make a strong case.

About the Author
In any personal injury case, it is important to always get legal representation. A specialized personal injury lawyer will know how to gather data and evidence, how to deal with insurance companies, and, if things come to court, how best present your case. If you need a Orange County personal injury lawyer, you will want only the best attorney representing you. Joseph Tosti has been practicing personal injury law for over two decades, and has won huge victories in the personal injury lawsuit area. Visit californiaaccident-injuryattorneys.com to learn more.