What Does A Personal Injury Lawyer Do? Pt. 3

Here’s another installment in my series of articles about what a personal injury attorney does for you when you have an accident in North Carolina.

We’ve talked in previous articles about liability investigations and the do this/don’t do that instructions that attorneys do at the beginning of your claim, as well as insurance coverage issues involving liability insurance, first party auto insurance, and health insurance (and the intersection of the three). That’s already a lot, for sure. But obviously, there’s more.

After we’ve established the liability argument on your claim and determined what insurance coverages are available/relevant, we’re now going to be walking you through your treatment and recovery. I tell clients almost on a daily basis that I NEVER make health care decisions for them, but it is my job to help them understand the consequences of their health care decisions on their claims. We should be providing input on how their treatment choices (or non-choices, as the case may be) will impact their claim. We will also provide impetus when needed. For example: Sometimes it’s time to get a second opinion, but it’s hard for clients to see the forest for the trees, as they say. Sometimes it’s just time to try to push the claim forward even if you aren’t done, but other times it makes sense to wait. Having an experienced attorney will help you to see which is which.

Once it’s time, we will then get all of your treatment records and bills, which will be instrumental in developing what’s called your demand brochure, which is the package that the insurance carriers will receive from us outlining your case and our demands. Letting your attorney get your records and bills is key to a smooth demand process. Acting as your own gatekeeper for these things will almost always just make things slower and worse, so let us do our job. We will also instruct you on what other documentation we’d want for the demand. Typically, in addition to records and bills, we’ll want to include lost income documentation and a pain journal. These are unique to every case so having good, reliable guidance on how to craft them is key.

Be on the lookout for the next installment.