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Recent statistics from the National Safety Council say that auto accident injuries cost approximately 498 billion dollars annually. There's no doubt that auto accidents can be complicated and costly—and that's why you need expert legal representation to help guide you through the legal process when you're injured.
A consultation with a personal injury attorney is the first step in making sure you get the compensation due to you. Today's blog explains what you need to bring with you to that important first appointment.
Your own account of the accident is often some of the most reliable and valuable information you can bring to your lawyer. Before your auto accident injury consultation, take some time to think about the details of how the accident happened, and make note of every detail. Small details might seem insignificant, but they're often invaluable in establishing a clear record of the accident.
Many auto accident victims find it helpful to write these thoughts down on paper or make notes in their phone. By doing this, you won't forget any important details during your retelling of the accident.
Your medical records include hospital paperwork, urgent care documents, and any other records of doctor visits. If you've been seeing a chiropractor, physical therapist, or other alternative health care practitioner in relation to your auto accident, bring those records with you as well.
If you don't have the necessary medical records, your attorney's office can help you obtain them once you've retained the law firm as your representative.
A police report (UD-10 Traffic Crash Report) is an essential part of documenting auto accidents in the state of Michigan. While the police report may or may not mention fault in the accident, it's still useful for documentation purposes so your lawyer needs to have it.
You can purchase a copy of the UD-10 report online through the Michigan State Police website. Michigan auto accident reports typically contain the name and contact info of the other driver and witnesses (if any).
In addition, the UD-10 may have valuable information like a diagram of the wreck, notes about the road condition, and a weather report from the time of the accident. Your lawyer can use all of this information to help verify your injuries and establish fault in the accident.
Many people take photos at the scene of the auto accident. This kind of documentation can be particularly useful alongside the information in the police report.
However, things can be quite chaotic at the time of an auto accident, particularly if you're seriously injured. So, if you didn't get a chance to take photos, it's all right—photos are just an extra thing that can help your case but lack of photos won't prevent you from getting fair compensation.
In most cases, auto accident injuries lead to time missed from work. Your pay stubs and bank statements are a good way to document this, and your medical records can explain the cause of your time off work.
When your personal injury attorney calculates how much your injury has cost you, your lost wages are a significant portion of that calculation. You might still be off work at the time of your consultation, and that's fine. Your attorney can calculate future lost wages if you're expected to still be out of work when they start negotiating your settlement or go to court.
At Bernstein & Bernstein, our Michigan-based personal injury attorneys have been successfully litigating auto accident and other injury cases for more than 85 years. Our attorneys work tirelessly to protect client rights and ensure that every person gets the compensation they deserve. If you've been in an auto accident and need help, gather the applicable information above and contact Bernstein & Bernstein today.
Phone: 810-232-5220
Mott Foundation Building
503 S. Saginaw St. Suite 717,
Flint, MI 48502
DOWNRIVER
Phone: 734-284-4774