1. What is the most important thing for me to do after my injury?

The most important thing for you to do, quite simply, is to recover from your injury. The law requires injured people to "mitigate their damages". In other words, the law requires you to do that which is necessary to improve your physical condition and recover from your injury.

For you, this may mean some, or all, of the following steps:

1. Do not miss appointments with your doctor. Stay in touch with your doctor and be certain to maintain your appointments. If you have to cancel, notify the doctor with as much notice as possible. The words "no show" on a doctor's record sheet can be used against you at the time of settlement or trial.
2. Attend physical therapy sessions as prescribed. Your physician or hospital may prescribe therapy to facilitate recovery from your injury. Such a procedure is often helpful in many types of injuries, including strains, sprains and other so-called "soft-tissue" injuries. If physical therapy is prescribed, be sure to keep your appointments and participate actively in the process. Again, if you have to cancel an appointment, be sure to call, but try to avoid cancellation as much as possible.
3. Do what your doctor tells you to do. If your physician prescribes certain medications, therapy exercises, or limitations on activities, be sure to follow your doctor's orders. Failure to follow your doctor's advice can be used against you when it comes time to settle your case, or can be used against you in court if your claim proceeds to litigation.
4. Follow your doctor's advice with respect to work and leisure activities. If your physician advises you to rest, stay home from work, or avoid certain activities, it is important that you follow such advice. If you resist your doctor's advice and do activities that have been limited, it will not only prevent a speedy recovery, but could also affect the legal aspects of your case. Even though staying out of work may have an impact financially, it is important that you follow such advice so that your recovery will be enhanced. Your lawyer will attempt to recover lost earnings.

2. How do I keep track of all my bills?

One of the most important things for you to do is to keep an accurate record of your medical bills. This is how you do it:

1. Save all prescription bills. Be sure to save copies of your prescriptions and drugstore charges for medicine that you purchase as a result of your injury.
2. Keep a separate chart with dates, amounts of medical bills, and purchases of medication. Maintain a separate record which has the date of the medical service or purchase of medication, the amount charged, and how the bill was paid (by insurance, your own personal funds, etc.) This requirement is very important because it will be your actual record of medical bills incurred as a result of your injury.
3. Be sure that your lawyer receives a copy of each medical bill, prescription bill, or other bill related to your injury. It is important for your lawyer to receive copies of all your medical bills as well as a copy of your medical bill summary when your case is ready for settlement. Even though your lawyer may receive copies of bills directly from the medical facilities, a double-check process will ensure that your claim settles for the maximum value. If your lawyer does not have a record of all your medical bills, your case may be settled for much less than its actual value.
4. Keep a record of medical bills even if they are processed through a health insurance carrier. Even if your medical bills are paid by a health insurance company or your employer, you must still maintain copies for yourself and be sure to get copies to your lawyer. You will have an obligation the party who paid the medical bills to assist in their recovering the amount they paid out. This is commonly known as a subrogated claim and you have a duty to collect the cost of the medical bills or to assist the health insurance carrier to recover their costs.