What we do when we initially take a case, we have the potential client bring in all of their documents. And hopefully if a client has signed a document that the other side, the defendants have given to the client, the client has it and we can take a look at it. By looking at all the documents, we can advise you as to whether we think you have a viable case. Just because you have signed a document doesn't mean the case goes away, that you have no case. It depends on what the document is and it depends if there is a way to explain it or not.
There is no benefit in talking to the insurance adjuster from the other side. They are trained to drive down the value of the case by taking advantage of the fact that you might be unrepresented early. Because one of the first things we are going to do when we take your case is we are going to go to those medical providers and get all your medical records to look at what you have been suffering through, what is the path of your recovery. And to show the insurance adjusters, show the defense attorneys that you have been doing everything possible to get better, but your body just won't let you because of the defendant's negligence.
It is important to be able to tell the story of how bad your suffering was. It is one thing to say "oh my back hurt". It is something else to say that for six years I have been going to my son's opening day baseball game, but because of this accident I wasn't able to go to the game. You forget things like that and it is important to journal those stories so they can be told later, either at your deposition or to a jury in order to get you full compensation.
You should not provide your medical records to the other side. It is something your attorney needs to go through and look at. Just because you are in a legal case, just because you are in a personal injury action doesn't open the door to everything you have had to go through your entire life. We all have things in our lives that affect who we are today. Just because you have been hurt by someone else's negligence doesn't open the door to that all of that other suffering.
If your case goes to trial, it is our position that in all likelihood you are going to be sitting with us throughout the whole trial and that is the way you should want it to be. Because while you are sitting there you are going to see everything develop and you can help us better represent you. The jury is going to want to see you and they are going to want to be there with their eyes on you to see what you have been through and to see how you are reacting to this and quite frankly see you fighting for yourself.