Clarence Barry-Austin, PC

Call Us To Discuss Your Case

(973) 763-8500

Clarence Barry-Austin, PC

It’s important that you notify your insurance company, first and foremost. You have an obligation under your policy to inform your insurance company that you’ve been involved in an accident. Now, whether you should inform the other insurance company is less critical. If you’re getting a lawyer, your lawyer will notify them for you. If you were to personally contact their insurance company, that would engage you in a conversation that will become a part of its file and could potentially be used against you.

If the At-Fault Party’s Insurance Company Reaches Out to Me, Is It Okay to Speak With Them and Give Them Any Information?

As soon as you’re represented, your attorney will contact the insurance company for the other party on your behalf. In most instances the insurance company representative will no longer reach out to you, but will instead deal with your attorney. Sometimes, contact is made notwithstanding the communication sent by your attorney informing the insurance company that you’re represented. If that should occur, do not engage them in any conversation except to say, “I have retained an attorney. This is his/her name and phone number. Please contact him if you need any additional information.”

What Other Information Should I Be Keeping My Attorney Up-To-Date With While My Personal Injury Case Is Ongoing?

Tell your attorney anything that you consider significant and make him/her aware of any change in the nature of your treatment. Let’s say you had sustained what we commonly call a “soft tissue” injury, which you made your attorney aware of when you first retained them. Then, that soft tissue injury becomes something that requires more than just conservative care, perhaps an operation. You should inform your attorney that the treatment modality has changed.

Also, throughout the course of your treatment, you are more than likely going to see many different health care providers. You may start out with a chiropractor, who may refer you to a pain management doctor. If surgery is required, you’ll see a surgeon, and then you’ll get therapy after the surgery. By the time your case is over, you will probably have seen multiple medical care providers. It’s important that you inform your attorney of each provider that you’re seeing so he/she knows who to contact in order to get all of your treatment records.

I Like to Keep My Friends and Family Up-To-Date on Social Media. Can I Post About My Injuries or My Case?

I would recommend not posting anything about your case or your injury on social media. Even when you make a truthful representation on social media about your case, any post is still subject to misinterpretation. To avoid that, I would say don’t post anything having to do with your injury, your accident, or the progress of your care.

What Else Could Potentially Harm My Case?

One of the things I tell my clients is not to let the injury control their life. The recovery that you receive in the case is temporary; you need to go on and continue to live your life. My aim is to get you the maximum benefit that you are entitled to. We will record and make a claim for the extent to which your injury prevents you from doing certain things in your life. I would never orchestrate the facts—like tell you to stay home from work longer than you need to—or manage your life in such a way as to benefit the case. You should not avoid certain activities that you’re capable of performing just to benefit your case. Try to get the maximum quality of life that your injury will allow, and we will get you a recovery for the injury that you have sustained, rather than the injury that you attempt to orchestrate.

For more information on Personal Injury Law in New Jersey, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (973) 763-8500 today.

Clarence Barry-Austin, Esq.

Call Us To Discuss Your Case
(973) 763-8500