May. 15, 2009 - Important Injury Law Tip: Keeping Diaries and Calendars

Your Atlanta attorney may ask you to keep a diary, a calendar of your daily activities or both, focusing on your physical and psychological injuries. This may seem like a chore, but it can be important for your legal case because it helps to prove your claims about your injuries, your pain and how they affect your life. If you sustained serious injuries in the accident, your treatment may continue for months and your healing patterns may change over time. It is important to keep a record of the changes you notice, both positive and negative, starting as soon as possible after the accident. In some cases, not only your Atlanta lawyer but even your treating physician may benefit from your notes.

In your diary, you should focus on how you feel and how you are coping with your injuries. Make these entries as often as you feel a change; there is no need to make an entry every day. To begin, write down your name and a start date. On any day after the accident when you notice any changes in how you feel, or experience anything unusual, write it down. Include the date and a brief description of what you are feeling and what you were doing when you felt it. A top Atlanta injury lawyer strongly advises to include any descriptions of things that seem important, such as events that seem to trigger pain.

It is important not to forget the diary as time goes on. At the beginning, you may make daily entries, but as you start to feel better, you may find yourself making entries that are further and further apart. It is absolutely fine to make fewer entries if you have less to say, but it is important not to forget your diary altogether. Unfortunately, some injuries continue to have occasional side effects, even after they seem to have healed. Try not to tuck your diary so far out of sight that you forget about it.

You should use the calendar to record each of your doctor’s appointments or other medical care. When you record a diagnostic appointment, be sure to note the type of test, such as an MRI. It is better not use this calendar to record social appointments or chores that are not relevant to your case. However, you should also record the dates and times of appointments with your lawyer, and any deadlines or court dates he or she provides.

You should take your diary and calendar with you both to doctor’s appointments and to meetings with your Atlanta accident lawyer. They will help your doctor treat you better and keep your law firm updated on your injuries and how they are healing.

Disclaimer: This blog or article is for information purpose only, and should not be treated a professional advise or price protection guarantee. This blog is mainly used for search engine optimization and other commercial purposes and it is advised that readers seek professional consultation in the field of interest for more information.

Mar. 24, 2009 - AFTER AN ACCIDENT, GET REAL HELP

Since you probably drove to work or school today, you’re likely to get back on the road after the day’s done to return home. And if you’re already there, it’s probably a matter of time before you’re out there on an errand, appointment, or on another one of life’s various obligations. According to national statistics, there are approximately 6.4 million car accidents in the US, not counting all those truck, motorcycle, slip and fall, and workplace accidents. Among numerous Atlanta injury attorneys in the field, the offices of Stokes & Kopitsky have carefully handled all manners of personal accidents for Georgia residents for over 30 years.

After an accident, one of your first concerns will probably be whether your injuries and property damage are covered by auto insurance. Luckily, you probably have at least some insurance coverage, because 48 states make auto insurance mandatory. (The other two, Wisconsin and New Hampshire, allow residents to drive without insurance as long as they have the financial resources to pay for any damage they cause in an accident.) Unfortunately, having some auto insurance is not the same as having enough auto insurance — and some drivers break the law by carrying none at all. This is bad news if you rely on the other driver’s insurance policy to cover your injuries, and it’s very important to be informed about qualified Atlanta accident lawyers who have extensive experience recovering millions of dollars for their clients and their families pursuing justice in Georgia injury or death cases, Atlanta accident, and Atlanta wrongful death cases.

As of late 2008, eleven states (including New York and Florida) and Puerto Rico have no-fault auto insurance systems. If your insurance policy is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP), you probably live in a no-fault state. In a no-fault system, your own insurance company pays the costs of your injuries, no matter whose fault it was. In exchange for that security, you cannot file a lawsuit over the accident unless you meet certain qualifications. In some states, your financial costs must be above a certain amount; in others, your injuries must be very serious (as defined by law).

Three states have “choice no-fault” systems, which means each individual may choose either an at-fault policy or a no-fault (PIP) policy. As of late 2008, those states are New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. If you live in Georgia and are not sure what type of insurance you have and you’re interested in further information, you owe it to yourself and loved ones to consult a qualified, experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer like Gregory M. Stokes. Both he and Atlanta auto accident lawyer Neil J. Kopitsky work personally and closely with you from start to finish, and their fees are paid only from the money they recover by settlement or in court. Otherwise, there is no fee. You do not need any money to hire them, and there is no fee for consultation.

Disclaimer: This blog or article is for information purpose only, and should not be treated a professional advise or price protection guarantee. This blog is mainly used for search engine optimization and other commercial purposes and it is advised that readers seek professional consultation in the field of interest for more information.