If you find yourself involved in a personal injury case, there are six key things you should know to help protect your rights – and even better, help ensure you get the settlement you deserve with a great accident attorney.

You probably have questions running through your head like – Should I talk to the opposing insurance company? Does the jury need to know the specifics of my injuries? Should I be keeping records of my medical bills, or will my insurance company take care of it?

Don't worry, my friend. We’ve got you covered. Below, you'll find the top things you should know if you find yourself involved in a personal injury case:
  • Take photos – Take photos of everything that provides evidence of your situation and how much pain you’re experiencing. This includes any damage to your vehicle, your injuries, and even the doctor’s offices and hospitals you visit. Photos are a much more convincing than any medical report or doctor’s notes.
  • Keep record of your pain – Find a notebook and make it a habit to journal daily about your symptoms, the progress you're making, and the doctor's visits you go to. Or, write the same things down on your calendar. The more the jury knows about your situation, the better they can make an informed decision on your case.
  • Be specific – When keeping records like this, be as specific as you can. For example, writing, "My back has been sore all day," is a poor description that doesn’t tell the jury much. Instead, write something like, "February 12 – I stayed home from work today because I couldn't even sit for a few minutes without being in pain."
  • Save bills and expense reports – Keep a file of all your medical bills, prescription bills, and any other expenses that may come as a result of your accident. For example, if you need to hire someone to mow your lawn because your injuries prevent you from doing it yourself, keep all receipts related to that.
  • Don't talk about your claim – The opposing insurance company is trying to gather as much information as they can about your injuries and the circumstances of the accident. For this reason alone, it’s very important you talk only with your doctor and personal injury lawyer about your injuries.
  • Don't settle until you know what the future holds – Don't ever agree on a settlement until your injuries are fully healed and a doctor gives you the "a-okay." If you settle but aren't fully healed, you may not get the full settlement amount you deserve.
This is just the beginning to the many things you should know about a personal injury case – but, knowing them can help protect your rights and ensure your settlement is fair.