secrets to win your injury case...secrets to win your injury case “ our clients come to us in...

Secrets to Win Your Injury Case

“Our clients come to us in their time of greatest need.They have been injured in some sort of an accident that was nottheir fault, yet they and their families are paying the price. I wrotethis book because I believe it is important that anyone injured in anaccident have a basic understanding of what they should and shouldnot do in order to protect their rights under personal injury law.”~ Scott Monge

Whether you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, in a shoppingaccident, on the job or have a claim for disability benefits, your lifehas been turned upside down, both physically and emotionally –and probably financially. Secrets to Win Your Injury Case givesreaders insight into what things they should do to protect their rightsand exposes the biggest mistakes many injured people make thatdamage their case.

ABOUT THE AUTHORScott Monge has practiced law since 1993 and founded his law firm with the mission of helping people win their cases. He is listed in Who’s Who of America, has appeared on television related to legal services provided by his Firm, lectured at legal seminars, is a Trial Lawyer Member of numerous state organizations, volunteers on numerous State Bar Committees and is proud sponsor of many charities. Scott has a winning record both inside and outside the courtroom. He and his team of highly trained professionals welcome anyone with questions to call or click for a free case review and offer each client a satisfaction guarantee related to services provided by the Firm. When not working Scott enjoys spending time with family, movies and traveling.

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Secrets'to'Win!Your'Injury'Case!

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Scott%Monge!Accident%&%Disability%Attorneys%of%Monge%&%Associates!

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Published by Lawyers Marketing Associates, Inc. in conjunction with vitalink® Publishing House, a division of vitalink, 4900 Falls of Neuse Rd., Suite 115, Raleigh, NC, 27609. Contact the publisher at [email protected] for more information.

!Secrets%to%Win%Your%Injury%Case!

!Author:!Scott!Monge!

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Copyright © 2012 by Scott Monge

!!ISBN 978-0-9847642-3-5

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Questions?*Go*to*www.BecauseYouWantToWin.com!

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About&the&Author!!Scott!Monge!is!a!personal!injury!attorney!representing!clients!with!personal!injury!and!disability!cases.!Monge!is!a!Champion!Member!of!the!Georgia!Trial!Lawyers!Association,!a!lecturer!at!legal!seminars!for!lawyers,!a!member!of!both!the!American!Bar!Association!and!an!expert!in!personal!injury!law!by!virtue!of!his!20+!years!experience!in!the!field.!

!Monge!received!his!undergraduate!degree!with!cum! laude!honors! from!Eastern!Illinois!University!and!his! Juris!Doctor!from!the!Southern!Illinois!University!School!of!Law.!He!was!admitted!to!the!Georgia!Bar!in!1993!and!has!served!injured!clients!in!the!state!of!Georgia!ever!since.!

!Monge!founded!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!with!the!goal!of!providing!a!superior!level!of!service!to!clients.!He!was!determined!to!build!a!law!firm!where!every!client!receives!high!quality!legal!services,!with!personal!attention!and!compassion.!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!is!a!full!service!law!firm!handling!cases!across!the!southeast.!The!Firm!provides!inS!person!service!24/7!and!has!a!proven!record!of!success!inside!and!outside!the!courtroom.!

!In!his!off!hours!he!enjoys!running,!travel,!and!spending!time!with!family.!

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Why&I&Wrote&this&Book!!Our!typical!client!comes!to!us!in!their!time!of!greatest!need.!They!have!been!injured!in!some!sort!of!an!accident!that!was!not!their!fault,!yet!they!and!their!families!are!paying!the!price.!The!injured!person’s!life!has!been!turned!upside!down,!both!physically!and!emotionally!–!and!frequently!financially.!They!do!not!know!what!to!do!or!where!to!go!for!help.!

!For!most!of!our!clients,!it!is!usually!the!first!time!they!have!been!seriously!injured,!and!in!many!cases!this!is!their!first!experience!dealing!with!a!law!firm.!It!is!important!to!have!the!ability!to!listen!and!the!empathy!and!compassion!to!understand!what!the!client!is!going!through!and!help!them!to!achieve!a!satisfactory!outcome.!

!With!any!serious!injury,!the!person’s!focus!should!be!on!getting!better!–!not!having!to!deal!with!insurance!companies!who!request!more!and!more!information!while!dragging!their!feet!to!avoid!payment.!Our!firm!offers!a!free!consultation!to!each!injured!person!so!they!will!understand!whether!or!not!they!have!a!case.!If!we!accept!a!case,!we!fully!investigate!what!happened,!handle!communications!with!the!atSfault!party’s!insurance!carrier!and!do!whatever!else!is!necessary!and!helpful!for!them!to!win!their!case.!

!I!wrote!this!book!because!I!believe!it!is!important!that!anyone!injured!in!an!accident!have!a!basic!understanding!of!what!they!should!and!should!not!do!in!order!to!protect!their!rights!under!personal!injury!law.!

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Important&Disclaimer!!I%am%not%allowed%to%give%legal%advice%in%this%book!!

!The!State!Bar!Association!does!not!permit!me!to!give!legal!advice!in!this!book.!While!I!have!significant!experience!in!handling!accident!and!injury!cases,!each!situation!is!different.!I!can!provide!you!with!basic!information!about!injury!cases!and!offer!suggestions!on!ways!to!identify!potential!problems,!but!please!do!not!take!anything!you!read!as!legal!advice.!I!will!only!give!legal!advice!after!I!have!met!with!you!to!discuss!your!specific!case,!you!have!decided!to!hire!our!firm,!and!we!have!agreed!in!writing!to!accept!your!case.!

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What&is&Personal&Injury&Law?!!Personal!injury!law!is!a!type!of!civil!law!(as!opposed!to!criminal!law)!that!addresses!situations!where!an!individual!is!harmed!as!the!result!of!the!action!(or!inaction)!of!another.!The!person!who!is!harmed!and!who!pursues!justice!through!the!legal!system!is!called!the!Plaintiff;!the!party!that!caused!the!injury!is!referred!to!as!the!Defendant.!

!Any!situation!where!you!were!injured!because!another!person,!organization!or!business!failed!to!use!reasonable!caution!falls!under!the!laws!(or!statutes)!governing!personal!injury!law.!Personal!injury!cases!may!include:!

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· Auto!accidents!· Motorcycle!accidents!· Drunk!driving!accidents!· Slip!and!fall!injuries!· Injuries!from!unsafe!products!· Pharmacy!errors!· Premises!liability!· Dangerous!drugs!· Medical!malpractice!· Dog!bites!· Burn!injuries!· And!others!

!Note!that!if!an!accident!results!only!in!property!damage,!different!laws!apply.!The!statutes!governing!personal!injury!cases!set!the!guidelines!under!which!an!injured!party!may!

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recover!damages!(a!monetary!award)!from!the!party!responsible!for!the!injury.!

!Several!of!types!of!damages!may!be!awarded!in!a!personal!injury!case.!These!are:!

!· Economic%damages%include!medical!bills,!medical!

devices!(i.e.,!a!walker!or!cane),!rehabilitation!costs,!related!prescription!drugs,!documented!lost!wages,!etc.!These!damages!are!actual!expenses!related!to!the!injury!that!can!be!documented!with!receipts.!

· NonDeconomic%damages%such!as!pain!and!suffering!may!also!be!awarded,!depending!upon!the!situation.!These!damages!are!harder!to!assign!a!value!to,!but!an!experienced!injury!attorney!will!understand!how!best!to!present!the!case!if!this!type!of!award!is!requested.!

· Punitive%damages%are!only!awarded!in!cases!where!the!Defendant!was!grossly!negligent!or!intended!to!cause!harm.!Punitive!damages!are!intended!to!punish!the!wrongdoer!and!prevent!similar!action!in!the!future.!Punitive!damage!awards!are!typically!seen!in!drunk!driving!cases,!hit!and!run!or!similar!situations!where!there!is!a!blatant!disregard!for!safety!or!the!wellSbeing!of!another.!

!In!situations!where!there!was!an!intent!to!harm!–!for!instance!an!individual!deliberately!tried!to!run!down!a!pedestrian!–!criminal!law!may!also!apply.!Even!though!the!individual!was!charged!under!criminal!law,!the!injured!party!may!still!pursue!a!civil!suit!in!the!courts!to!recover!damages.!

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Does!this!mean!that!if!another!person!was!at!fault!for!your!injury!(for!example,!they!were!ticketed!for!causing!a!car!accident)!that!they!will!automatically!have!to!pay!all!your!expenses?!Not!necessarily.!The!degree!of!fault!and!intent!both!may!come!into!play!in!an!injury!case.!Further!rules!may!apply!to!specific!types!of!cases.!Different!states!have!different!rules!regarding!the!assignment!of!“fault.”!Georgia,!for!example,!uses!a!modified!comparative!fault!standard!of!50%.!This!means!that!if!you!were!50%!or!more!at!fault!for!causing!the!accident,!then!you!cannot!legally!recover!damages!for!your!injury.!Even!if!you!were!less!than!50%!at!fault,!your!damage!recovery!is!reduced!by!your!percentage!of!fault.!What!does!this!mean?!If!you!were!10%!at!fault!for!the!accident!and!the!damages!award!was!$100,000,!it!would!be!reduced!by!the!10%!you!were!at!fault,!so!you!would!receive!$90,000.!

!Obviously,!determining!fault!becomes!very!important!in!any!injury!case.!Insurance!companies!have!trained!investigators!and!access!to!medical!experts!who!will!review!every!case!with!the!intent!of!limiting!the!payout!their!employer!(the!insurance!company)!must!make.!If!you!have!been!injured!in!an!accident,!I!strongly!recommend!you!speak!with!an!experienced!injury!attorney!before!you!talk!to!the!atSfault!party’s!insurance!company!to!ensure!your!rights!are!protected.!

!Readers!should!note!that!statutes!may!differ!from!state!to!state,!but!the!concepts!generally!remain!the!same.!

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Questions?*Go*to*www.BecauseYouWantToWin.com!!

Types&of&Injury&Cases!!In!this!section,!I!will!cover!some!of!the!more!common!types!of!injury!cases!I!see!in!my!practice.!While!each!specific!case!is!different,!there!are!similarities.!

!Auto&Accidents!

!Every!time!you!go!out!on!the!road!in!your!vehicle,!there!is!a!risk!that!you!will!be!involved!in!an!accident.!According!to!the!National!Highway!Transportation!Safety!Administration!(NHTSA),!of!the!10.8+!million!annual!accidents!!the!majority!of!vehicle!accidents!(71.9%)!did!not!involve!injuries;!approximately!27.6%!had!injuries!of!varying!severity;!and!.56%!were!fatal1.!The!good!news!is!that!fatality!rates!have!been!dropping!for!the!last!decade,!primarily!due!to!safety!improvements!by!auto!manufacturers!and!advances!in!medical!science.!Unfortunately,!

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The%NHTSA!!The!NHTSA!maintains!records!of!summarized!data!on!car,!truck!and!motorcycle!accidents!in!the!United!States.!They!classify!accidents!as!property!damage!only,!injury!accident!or!fatal!accident.!They!also!log!the!type!of!vehicle,!number!of!passengers,!type!of!accident!(single!car,!rollover,!etc.)!and!the!cause!of!the!accident.!

accidents!involving!motorcycles!and!big!rigs!have!a!higher!percentage!of!fatalities.!

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1 http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf

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The!most!common!types!of!injuries!seen!in!car!accidents!include:!

!· Spine,%back%&%neck%injuries,!including!whiplash,!are!

one!of!the!most!frequent!injuries!we!see;!many!injuries!involve!strained!ligaments,!muscles!or!tendons!and!may!fall!into!the!hardStoSprove!“soft!tissue!injury”!category.!Severe!spinal!cord!injuries!may!result!in!paralysis!(paraplegia%or%quadriplegia).!

· Lacerations%(cuts)!may!occur!when!glass!is!shattered!or!the!vehicle’s!sheet!metal!is!torn.!Deep!cuts!may!result!in!loss!of!blood!or!cause!the!patient!to!go!into!shock.!Scarring!can!occur,!so!the!injured!person!may!need!to!see!a!plastic!surgeon!to!repair!the!damage.!

· Broken%bones%are!also!common!in!vehicle!accidents.!Surgery!may!be!required!to!repair!the!damage,!and!the!injured!person!may!need!to!go!through!weeks!or!months!of!rehabilitation.!

· Concussion%or!traumatic%brain%injuries%(TBI)%are!both!injuries!to!the!brain!resulting!from!a!blow!to!the!head,!causing!the!brain!to!swell.!A!minor!concussion!may!be!treated!with!bed!rest!and!pain!medication,!while!a!traumatic!brain!injury!may!require!surgery!or!result!in!permanent!loss!of!function!or!death.!It!is!important!to!note!that!symptoms!of!concussion!or!TBI!do!not!always!appear!right!away;!it!may!take!an!hour!or!more!for!the!swelling!in!the!brain!to!cause!symptoms.!

· While!not!every!accident!results!in!a!vehicle!fire,!burn%injuries%are!a!risk!when!this!does!happen.!Serious!burns!are!extremely!painful,!put!the!victim!at!risk!of!

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infection!and!can!cause!severe!disfigurement,!impacting!the!quality!of!life!of!the!injured!person.!

· Internal%injuries%can!also!be!lifeSthreatening!and!may!not!be!immediately!evident.!In!a!serious!accident!it!is!always!best!to!be!checked!out!at!the!emergency!room.!

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!While!there!have!been!tremendous!strides!in!medical!treatment!and!more!people!survive!auto!accidents,!the!road!to!recovery!can!be!painful!and!costly.!Some!injuries!cannot!be!fully!healed,!changing!the!life!of!the!injured!party!forever.!

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!Common!Causes!of!Auto!Accidents!

!According!to!the!NHTSA,!distracted!driving!is!the!number!one!cause!of!auto!accidents!in!the!U.S.,!followed!by!driver!fatigue,!DUI!(DWI),!and!speeding.!With!28%!of!accidents!resulting!in!injury!or!fatality,!it!is!important!to!understand!the!causes!of!auto!accidents!and!consider!how!we!can!each!do!our!part!to!make!the!roadways!safer.!

!Distracted*Driving!The!National!Highway!Transportation!Safety!Administration!estimates!that!20%!of!all!injury!accidents!involved!distracted!driving2.!Based!on!how!the!data!is!collected,!it!is!very!likely!this!number!is!much!higher.!

!Distracted!driving!falls!into!the!same!category!as!inattentive!driving,!which!includes!factors!such!as!driver!fatigue,!physical!condition!or!emotional!condition.!If!your!attention!is!not!on!

!2 http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2011/tables/11s1108.pdf

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the!road,!you!are!likely!a!distracted!driver.!Here!are!some!common!distractions:!

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· Texting;!· Talking!on!the!phone;!· Eating!or!drinking;!· Setting!a!GPS!while!driving;!· Changing!radio!stations!(MP3!player,!iPod,!etc.);!· Reading;!· Shaving!or!putting!on!makeup;!· Focusing!on!passengers!instead!of!the!road;!

!At!the!time!of!this!writing,!many!states!have!enacted!texting!while!driving!bans!with!the!intent!of!making!our!roadways!safer.!Georgia!currently!bans!texting!while!driving!for!all!drivers,!and!drivers!under!age!18!are!not!permitted!to!use!a!cell!phone!(calls!or!texting)!or!computer!(mobile!device)!while!driving.!

!If!you!are!behind!the!wheel!of!any!vehicle,!your!entire!attention!should!be!focused!on!safe!driving.!

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!Driver*Fatigue!Driver!fatigue!is!number!two!on!the!list.!When!a!driver!is!fatigued,!not!only!is!the!driver!more!likely!to!fall!asleep!at!the!wheel!but!his!or!her!reaction!times!decline.!Fatigue!is!a!common!cause!of!commercial!truck!and!big!rig!accidents.!

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!Symptoms!of!fatigue!include!drifting!across!lanes,!yawning,!blurred!vision,!nodding!off,!or!not!maintaining!a!consistent!

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speed.!If!you!are!driving!and!experience!these!symptoms,!it!may!help!to:!· Take!a!break!every!2!hours;!get!out!of!the!car!and!

walk!around;!· Switch!off!with!another!driver;!· Plan!your!trip!when!you!are!normally!well!rested!

(driving!8!hours!after!working!all!day!is!not!a!good!idea!).!

· Drink!plenty!of!fluids!and!eat!healthy!foods!(sugary!snacks!will!only!give!you!a!short!energy!burst);!

· Avoid!driving!if!your!medications!make!you!tired;!· NEVER!drink!alcohol!and!drive!!

!A!fatigued!driver!is!a!risk!to!everyone!on!the!road.!It!will!be!much!cheaper!in!the!longSrun!to!stop!and!rest!than!to!deal!with!the!physical!and!financial!fallout!if!you!cause!an!accident!due!to!your!fatigued!state.!

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!DUI/DWI!Number!three!on!the!list!is!driving!under!the!influence!(or!DUI).!Use!of!the!acronyms!DUI!and!DWI!(driving!while!intoxicated)!varies!by!state,!but!the!terms!are!frequently!used!interchangeably.!In!Georgia!you!may!be!charged!with!DUI!if!your!blood!alcohol!concentration!(BAC)!is!.08!or!higher.!You!may!face!additional!penalties!if!the!BAC!is!.15!or!higher.!Drivers!under!age!21!should!note!that!Georgia!has!a!zero!tolerance!policy!for!underage!drivers.!

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!Despite!the!efforts!of!law!enforcement!officials!and!educational!groups!like!Mothers!Against!Drunk!Driving,!there!are!people!out!there!who!still!drink!and!drive.!!

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Georgia,!399!people!were!killed!in!auto!accidents!where!there!was!some!degree!of!alcohol!impairment.!This!is!approximately!31%!of!all!fatal!accidents.!In!the!U.S.!during!the!same!period,!38%!of!all!fatal!accidents!involved!alcohol.3! It!can!be!especially!difficult!for!an!individual!who!is!injured!or!a!family!who!loses!a!loved!one!when!the!cause!was!preventable.!

!Speeding!Any!time!excessive!speed!is!involved!in!a!crash,!the!potential!for!injury!increases.!According!to!the!Insurance!Institute!for!Highway!Safety,!the!energy!released!in!an!accident!at!60!mph!is!double!that!of!an!accident!where!speeds!are!40!mph.!

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!Going!faster!than!the!posted!speed!OR!driving!too!fast!for!road!conditions!(fog!or!reduced!visibility,!wet!roads,!snow,!ice,!etc.)!are!both!categorized!as!speeding.!Excessive!speed!on!wet!roads!may!cause!the!vehicle!to!hydroplane;!this!means!the!tires!lose!contact!with!the!road!surface!so!the!driver!no!longer!has!control!of!the!vehicle.!Limited!visibility!has!led!to!numerous!wrecks—some!of!them!involving!dozens!of!cars!and!making!the!national!or!international!news.!A!driver!who!speeds!is!a!danger!to!everyone!else!on!the!road.!

!!Aggressive*Driving!There!are!some!drivers!out!there!who!believe!they!own!the!road!and!drive!accordingly.!These!drivers!may!become!aggressive!when!others!get!in!their!way!and!may!even!scream!obscenities,!make!rude!gestures,!cut!your!vehicle!off!or,!in!extreme!cases,!pull!a!weapon!on!another!driver!(a!“road!rage”!incident).!

!3 http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf

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Other!types!of!aggressive!behavior!include!tailgating,!speeding,!weaving!in!and!out!of!traffic,!driving!on!the!shoulder,!honking!the!horn!repeatedly,!or!screaming!at!other!drivers.!This!behavior!does!cause!accidents.!If!you!encounter!an!aggressive!driver,!your!best!choice!is!not!to!respond!to!the!driver!and!to!back!away.!If!you!do!feel!threatened!by!an!aggressive!driver,!call!911!for!assistance.!

!Weather!Your!mother!told!you!so!and!the!statistics!prove!it.!Bad!weather!can!cause!accidents.!Common!weatherSrelated!situations!include:!

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· Hydroplaning;!· Low!visibility!due!to!fog,!snow,!or!heavy!rain;!· Hail!storms;!· Ice!(note!that!raised!areas!like!bridges!DO!ice!up!more!

quickly);!· Heavy!winds!causing!downed!trees!or!power!lines;!· Heavy!rains!producing!flash!floods;!· Standing!water!(do!NOT!drive!through!it);!

!If!you!can!avoid!driving!during!bad!weather,!you!should!do!so.!When!that!is!not!possible,!slow!down,!avoid!distractions,!and!drive!cautiously!according!to!road!conditions.!

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Driving&Under&the&Influence!!As!an!accident!and!injury!attorney,!I!have!dealt!with!many!individuals!and!families!who!have!been!touched!by!accidents!caused!by!drunk!drivers.!In!every!state!in!the!U.S.,!it!is!against!the!law!to!drive!under!the!influence!of!alcohol.!(Impairment!due!to!drug!use!falls!under!the!same!or!similar!types!of!laws).!As!I!mentioned!above,!statistics!show!that!38%!of!all!fatal!accidents!involve!alcohol.!Drivers!who!are!on!the!roads!obeying!the!laws!should!not!have!to!worry!about!being!injured!or!killed!by!an!individual!who!has!chosen!to!drive!under!the!influence.!

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!Drivers!arrested!and!facing!criminal!charges!for!DUI!can!also!be!held!accountable!under!a!civil!action!filed!by!those!who!are!injured!due!to!the!driver’s!criminal!activity.!DUI!is!considered!gross!negligence!and!may!allow!those!injured!by!the!Defendant!to!recover!not!only!economic!damages!from!the!accident,!but!also!punitive!damages.!Georgia!permits!those!arrested!for!DUI!who!have!caused!the!death!of!another!to!be!charged!with!vehicular!homicide.!This!could!give!rise!to!a!civil!suit!filed!by!the!victim’s!family!for!wrongful!death.!

!Georgia,!like!many!other!states,!has!what!are!referred!to!as!“dram!shop!laws.”!These!laws!hold!bars!and!restaurants!accountable!(and!legally!liable)!for!knowingly!serving!alcohol!to!an!individual!who!they!know!is!about!to!drive!a!vehicle!and!who!appears!intoxicated.!If!you!have!been!injured,!or!a!loved!one!has!been!killed!by!a!drunk!driver,!you!should!immediately!speak!to!an!injury!attorney.!

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Work&Related&Injuries!!!According!to!the!Bureau!of!Labor!Statistics,!over!3!million!people!were!injured!in!workSrelated!accidents!in!the!private!sector;!just!over!4,000!of!those!accidents!were!fatal.!More!than!half!of!the!injuries!resulted!in!missed!work!days!or!restricted!duty!assignments.!While!most!injured!workers!recover!completely!and!return!to!work,!more!severe!injuries!may!result!in!partial!or!total!permanent!disability.!The!latter!types!of!injuries!are!referred!to!as!catastrophic!injuries!and!may!include!amputations,!severe!head!injuries,!paralysis,!blindness,!or!any!injury!that!prevents!the!worker!from!returning!to!his!or!her!job!or!other!employment.!

!With!some!minor!exceptions,!all!workers!are!covered!under!workers’!compensation!laws!of!the!state!in!which!they!are!employed.!In!Georgia,!for!example,!injured!workers!are!eligible!to!have!their!medical!treatments!covered!and!to!receive!a!portion!of!their!salary!(up!to!a!maximum!allowed!by!the!state).!There!are!specific!requirements!that!each!employer!must!meet!and!rules!that!each!injured!employee!must!follow!in!order!to!have!their!workers’!comp!claim!covered.!Here!are!some!of!the!basics!that!employees!in!Georgia!should!know:!

!

!· The!employer!must!post!a!list!of!6!approved!doctors!

you!may!choose!from!to!handle!your!injury!(note!if!it!is!an!emergency!situation,!this!rule!does!not!apply!to!the!initial!treatment);!

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· You!must!notify!your!employer!of!the!injury!immediately.!If!you!fail!to!notify!the!employer!within!30!days,!benefits!may!be!denied.!

· You!will!not!be!paid!for!the!first!7!days!of!work!you!miss!UNLESS!you!miss!more!than!21!consecutive!days;!at!that!point!you!will!be!compensated!for!the!first!7!days!you!were!out;!

· You!must!follow!medical!advice!given!by!the!treating!physician;!failure!to!do!so!may!result!in!your!benefits!being!suspended;!

· If!the!doctor!approved!a!return!to!work!at!a!different!job!in!the!company,!you!must!attempt!that!job!or!benefits!can!be!suspended:!

· If!the!injury!was!caused!by!the!employees’!failure!to!follow!the!employer’s!safety!rules!or!policies,!drug!or!alcohol!use,!or!willful!misconduct,!benefits!may!be!denied.!

!For!a!more!detailed!look!at!the!employer!and!employee!responsibilities!related!to!workers’!compensation,!go!to!www.files.georgia.gov/SBWC/Files/employee_handbook.pdf!or!review!the!government!site!for!your!state.!

!What*if*my*claim*is*denied*or*benefits*are*not*paid?!

!

!I!have!seen!multiple!instances!where!the!workers’!compensation!insurance!carrier!refuses!to!pay!the!employee’s!claim.!While!some!justifications!are!clear!cut!under!the!law!(i.e.,!willful!misconduct!caused!the!injury),!in!most!cases!the!dispute!arises!when!the!injury!is!permanent!and!the!worker!is!unable!to!return!to!his!or!her!prior!job!or!a!similar!job!at!an!

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equivalent!salary.!In!these!cases,!it!is!sometimes!necessary!for!the!injured!worker!to!hire!an!attorney!to!obtain!the!benefits!to!which!he!or!she!is!entitled.!Most!law!firms!do!offer!a!free!initial!consultation,!so!if!your!claim!has!been!denied!or!benefits!terminated,!do!speak!to!an!attorney!to!see!if!you!have!a!valid!case.!

!Slip&and&Fall&/&Premises&Liability!

!Slip!and!fall!injuries!are!extremely!common!and!can!happen!just!about!anywhere.!Slip!and!fall!cases!fall!under!a!type!of!law!called!premises!liability.!Premises!liability!cases!generally!result!when!the!property!owner!or!manager!was!negligent!–!meaning!that!he!or!she!knew!about!the!dangerous!situation!but!took!no!steps!to!correct!the!danger!or!prevent!injury.!

!Some!common!types!of!slip!and!fall!cases!include:!

!· A!wet!surface!in!a!store!that!has!not!been!marked!

with!a!caution!sign;!· Store!items!which!fall!and!cause!injury;!· An!escalator!that!continues!to!operate!after!the!

manager!has!been!advised!of!a!broken!tread;!· A!leak!which!the!store!knew!about!and!failed!to!warn!

customers;!!When!the!injury!is!more!serious!or!results!in!lost!wages,!the!victim!should!expect!to!be!compensated.!It!is!important!to!know!that!the!business!is!going!to!contact!an!experienced!defense!attorney!immediately!for!advice.!You!should!do!the!same!and!contact!an!attorney!for!a!free!consultation.!

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If!you!slip!and!fall,!report!your!injury!to!the!owner!or!manager!of!the!business!–!even!if!you!do!not!think!you!are!injured!!Most!businesses!have!documented!procedures!to!follow!in!the!event!there!is!a!possible!injury!on!the!premises.!Allow!them!to!take!the!report!and!ask!for!a!copy.!If!there!were!witnesses,!collect!their!names,!addresses!and!phone!numbers.!If!video!is!available,!you!may!want!to!request!a!copy!of!this,!as!well,!or!at!least!ask!them!to!set!it!aside!and!not!put!it!back!into!the!rotation!to!be!recorded!over.!If!your!injury!is!serious!(or!you!are!not!sure),!ask!the!manager!to!call!9S1S1!911!and!have!the!paramedics!come.!

!Not!all!injuries!are!visible!or!immediately!evident.!Pain!and!swelling!may!occur!during!the!first!24!hours!after!the!accident,!resulting!in!a!visit!to!the!doctor!or!emergency!room.!If!this!happens,!make!certain!you!maintain!copies!of!all!documentation!and!notify!the!store!manager!of!your!medical!treatment.!You!should!consult!with!a!personal!injury!attorney!to!make!certain!you!protect!your!rights.!

!Pedestrian&&&Bicycle&Incidents!

!It!seems!like!every!week!we!read!about!a!pedestrian!or!bicyclist!who!has!been!hit!by!a!car!or!truck.!Injuries!from!these!accidents!can!be!severe,!resulting!in!months!of!rehabilitation!and!potential!longSterm!consequences.!Indeed,!the!NHTSA!statistics!mentioned!earlier!include!pedestrian!and!nonS!motorized!vehicle!fatalities!related!to!the!auto!accidents!they!track;!14.4%!of!fatalities!reported!were!of!pedestrians,!bike!riders!and!those!on!other!types!of!nonS!motorized!vehicles.!

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Again!in!this!type!of!case,!assignment!of!fault!does!come!into!play.!If!the!pedestrian!or!bike!rider!is!following!the!rules!of!the!road!and!is!hit!by!a!distracted!or!speeding!driver!(for!example),!then!the!case!is!fairly!clear!cut.!The!gray!areas!arise!when!fault!is!not!as!easily!determined.!In!either!case,!it!is!in!the!best!interests!of!the!injured!person!or!his!or!her!family!to!speak!with!an!attorney.!

!Medical&Malpractice!

!There!is!an!expectation!when!we!see!a!physician!or!go!to!the!hospital!that!a!certain!“reasonable”!standard!of!care!will!be!provided.!In!most!cases,!this!is!exactly!what!happens.!Unfortunately,!there!are!times!when!a!doctor,!hospital,!pharmacist,!laboratory!staff!or!other!medical!provider!makes!a!mistake,!resulting!in!harm!to!the!patient!or!sometimes!death.!

!Medical!malpractice!arises!when!negligence!or!a!failure!to!use!a!“reasonable!degree!of!care!and!skill”!occurs!when!treating!a!patient.!The!standard!of!care!should!be!what!a!similar!healthcare!professional!would!provide.!Care!that!does!not!meet!that!standard!and!results!in!preventable!injury!or!death!could!be!classified!as!medical!malpractice.!

!Most!medical!malpractice!cases!do!not!receive!media!attention;!some!are!settled!by!the!insurance!carrier!before!they!can!go!to!trial!in!an!effort!to!avoid!publicity!and!a!potentially!higher!settlement!payout!!While!there!have!been!some!extreme!cases!of!medical!malpractice!reported!in!the!news,!as!well!as!some!very!large!jury!awards,!it!is!important!to!note!that!some!states!limit!economic!and!punitive!damages!in!medical!malpractice!cases.!

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Medical!malpractice!can!be!difficult!to!prove.!The!Plaintiff!must!prove!that!the!doctor,!hospital!or!other!medical!professional!was!negligent!in!their!handling!of!the!case.!This!usually!involves!hiring!medical!experts!to!determine!what!the!reasonable!standard!of!care!should!have!been.!The!Plaintiff!must!also!prove!that!the!injury!was!the!direct!result!of!the!medical!provider’s!negligence.!As!an!example,!just!because!the!doctor!diagnosed!a!patient!with!Alzheimer’s!later!rather!than!earlier!does!not!prove!malpractice.!

!Pharmacy*Errors,*Dangerous*Drugs*&*Medical*Devices!

!Patients!may!also!be!injured!by!errors!on!the!part!of!the!pharmacist!filling!a!prescription.!If!the!pharmacist!makes!an!error!when!filling!a!script,!the!patient!may!have!a!bad!reaction!to!the!drug,!fail!to!improve!or!have!the!condition!worsen.!Failure!to!use!reasonable!care!when!carrying!out!his!or!her!duties!is!a!form!of!medical!malpractice.!

!Likewise,!over!the!past!several!years!we!have!heard!of!mass!recalls!and!class!action!lawsuits!against!drug!and!medical!device!manufacturers.!In!the!hurry!to!get!their!products!approved!by!the!Food!and!Drug!Administration,!some!manufacturers!will!rush!testing!or!test!the!product!on!too!small!a!group.!Here!are!just!some!of!the!recent!recalls!of!drugs!and!medical!devices!that!have!resulted!in!serious!complications!or!death:!

!

· Yaz!and!Yasmin!(birth!control)!· DuPuy®!metal!on!metal!hip!replacements!· Transvaginal!mesh!· Fosamax!

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· Darvon!· Actos!· Zoloft!

!If!you!have!been!harmed!or!a!loved!one!has!died!as!the!result!of!a!dangerous!drug!or!medical!device,!I!recommend!you!speak!with!an!attorney!to!learn!your!rights.!

!Other&Injury&Cases!

!In!this!book!I!have!covered!a!number!of!the!more!common!types!of!injury!cases,!but!there!are!many!other!types!of!cases!that!are!covered!under!personal!injury!law.!Here!are!a!few!other!types!of!cases!I!have!handled:!

!Dog*Bites!According!to!the!Centers!for!Disease!Control!and!Prevention!(CDC),!approximately!800,000!people!in!the!U.S.!are!treated!for!dog!bites;!half!of!them!are!children.!The!highest!rate!of!dog!bite!injuries!by!age!range!is!seen!in!children!5S9!years!old.!Children!are!particularly!susceptible!to!dog!bites!due!to!their!smaller!size!and!inability!to!discern!when!a!dog!is!exhibiting!aggressive!behavior.!The!CDC!has!a!helpful!fact!sheet!with!tips!for!both!dog!owners!and!parents!to!help!prevent!bites.!This!can!be!found!on!their!website!at!www.cdc.gov!(search!for!“dog!bite!facts”).!

!!If!you!or!a!loved!one!has!been!bitten!by!a!vicious!dog!and!injured,!disfigured!or!died!from!the!attack,!I!recommend!you!consult!with!an!attorney!to!learn!your!rights.!

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Burns!Burn!injuries!may!result!from!fires!at!home,!chemical!or!industrial!accidents,!car!accidents,!workSrelated!injuries!or!from!exposure!to!extremely!hot!liquid!(scalding!injuries).!Again,!children!seem!to!be!disproportionately!affected.!

!

!Burns!are!very!painful!and!may!be!extremely!disfiguring.!Recovery!can!be!very!long!and!include!many!setbacks.!If!you!or!a!loved!one!received!a!burn!injury!in!an!accident!that!was!not!your!fault,!you!may!wish!to!consult!with!an!attorney!to!learn!your!rights.!

!

!Other*Child*Injuries!The!CDC!reports!over!9.2!million!children!visit!the!emergency!room!each!year!to!be!treated!for!unintentional!injuries.!This!covers!a!variety!of!types!of!injuries,!including!suffocation,!being!struck!by!an!object,!falls,!and!negligent!supervision!at!a!child!care!facility.!If!your!child!is!injured!as!the!result!of!another’s!negligence,!be!it!a!person!or!a!business,!you!should!speak!with!an!attorney!to!see!if!you!have!a!case.!

!Wrongful&Death!

!If!a!loved!one!died!as!the!result!of!another!person’s!negligence,!you!may!have!what!is!called!a!wrongful!death!case.!It!can!be!overwhelming!to!lose!a!loved!one!unexpectedly.!Many!families!who!lose!a!loved!one!are!thrown!into!financial!and!emotional!turmoil,!especially!if!the!loved!one!was!the!primary!breadwinner!in!the!family!or!did!not!have!sufficient!life!insurance.!It!can!feel!like!your!entire!world!is!spinning!out!of!control.!Knowing!that!loss!was!the!fault!of!

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another!and!might!have!been!preventable!makes!it!that!much!harder.!

!In!most!cases,!the!Georgia!statute!of!limitations!in!wrongful!death!cases!is!two!years.!If!you!have!lost!a!loved!one!in!an!accident!that!was!the!fault!of!another!–!whether!it!is!an!auto!accident,!medical!malpractice,!workSrelated!injury!or!other!type!of!accident!–!contact!an!attorney!immediately!to!discuss!the!specifics!of!your!situation!and!protect!your!rights.!

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What&to&Expect&if&you&Hire&an&Attorney!!For!many!individuals,!this!is!the!first!time!they!have!ever!hired!an!attorney.!In!addition!to!dealing!with!the!stress!from!the!accident,!they!now!are!uncertain!what!to!expect!in!this!attorney/client!relationship.!I!want!to!put!your!mind!at!ease!by!giving!you!an!idea!of!what!happens!once!we!begin!working!on!your!case.!

!There!are!three!things!you!should!know!up!front.!First,!your!attorney!works!for!you.!He!or!she!represents!your*interests.!You!should!expect!prompt!and!open!communication!from!the!attorney!about!your!case.!My!Firm!offers!a!100%!Satisfaction!Guarantee,!so!if!you!are!not!satisfied!with!our!services!during!the!first!30!days!after!hiring!our!firm,!you!will!not!be!charged!any!fees!and!your!case!file!will!be!returned!to!you!with!no!questions!asked.!

!Second,!the!attorney/client!relationship!is!privileged,!meaning!what!we!discuss!remains!confidential.!That!said,!if!you!wish!for!us!to!disclose!information!about!your!case!to!your!spouse!or!other!relatives,!you!must!give!us!permission!to!do!so.!

!Third,!we!will!never!settle!your!case!without!your!knowledge!and!permission.!If!a!settlement!offer!is!received,!we!will!contact!you!and!review!the!offer,!providing!our!recommendation!on!whether!you!should!accept!the!offer!and,!if!not,!explain!why!not.!The!settlement!offer!will!only!be!accepted!with!your!approval.!

!While!each!case!is!different,!here!are!some!of!the!things!that!typically!happen!during!the!course!of!an!injury!case:!

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· Collect*Information*and*Investigate*the*Accident:!We!will!review!all!the!paperwork!you!bring!to!us!and!gather!additional!documentation!about!the!accident,!including!photos!or!videos.!We!will!also!contact!all!witnesses!to!discuss!their!recollection!of!the!accident.!Depending!upon!the!situation,!we!may!also!have!an!investigator!do!a!review!of!the!accident!or!bring!in!medical!experts!to!review!your!injuries.!

· Review*Insurance*Policies:!We!will!read!through!all!related!insurance!to!see!what!coverage!is!available.!

· Analyze*Determination*of*Fault:!As!mentioned!before,!the!statutes!vary!by!state,!so!we!will!review!the!documentation!carefully!to!determine!whether!negligence!was!involved!and!that!any!fault!assigned!to!you!can!be!proven.!

· Notify*Parties*of*Legal*Representation:!We!will!advise!the!insurance!carrier(s)!and!other!involved!parties!that!you!are!now!represented!by!an!attorney!and!all!future!contact!should!be!through!our!Firm.!

· Settlement*Options:!The!circumstances!surrounding!each!case!are!different;!however!we!generally!make!a!good!faith!effort!to!negotiate!a!reasonable!settlement!with!the!Defendant’s!insurance!carrier!before!filing!a!lawsuit.!

· Trial*Preparation:!If!we!are!unable!to!negotiate!a!reasonable!settlement,!your!case!will!proceed!to!a!litigation!review.!

· Trial:!The!percentage!of!cases!that!go!to!trial!varies!based!on!the!specifics!of!the!case!and!which!court!system!(or!jurisdiction)!will!hear!the!case.!A!typical!injury!trial!may!last!several!days.!

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· FollowRup*and*Closing*the*File:!Once!the!case!is!resolved,!any!funds!due!will!be!paid!through!our!office.!All!final!paperwork!will!be!done!and!the!file!will!be!considered!closed.!

!This!is!a!somewhat!simplified!version!of!the!process,!but!it!does!give!you!an!idea!of!what!to!expect!as!your!case!is!processed.!It!is!important!to!note!that!I!cannot!give!you!a!specific!timeline!when!each!step!will!take!place.!Final!resolution!is!dependent!upon!multiple!factors,!including!timeliness!of!response!from!medical!providers!and!witnesses,!the!insurance!company!involved,!the!court!dockets!and!prompt!responses!from!you!if!we!have!questions!or!need!more!information.!

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How&to&Choose&an&Attorney!!Many!people!start!their!search!by!asking!relatives!or!friends!for!a!referral.!And!this!is!a!great!choice.!But!typically!the!attorney!they!recommend!will!be!great!at!handling!real!estate!closings!or!writing!Wills.!If!they!have!limited!experience!with!injury!cases,!they!may!not!be!the!best!attorney!to!handle!your!case.!

!

!Why!is!it!important!to!choose!a!law!firm!that!focuses!on!a!specific!practice!area!vs.!a!general!practice!firm?!There!are!a!couple!of!reasons.!Law!firms!that!handle!lots!of!personal!injury!or!accident!cases!will!have!a!list!of!qualified!investigators,!medical!experts!and!other!resources!they!have!used!in!the!past!for!injury!cases!and!they!will!know!the!quality!of!the!work!these!resources!do.!And!while!it!may!not!seem!fair,!insurance!companies!know!which!injury!firms!are!willing!to!settle!quickly!and!which!are!the!most!aggressive;!they!will!negotiate!based!on!what!they!know!of!the!firm.!

!

!There!are!many!other!ways!you!can!learn!about!different!attorneys!and!law!firms.!Each!firm’s!website!is!a!good!starting!point.!Their!site!will!likely!contain!information!about!their!practice!areas,!specific!attorneys,!customer!service!policies!and!practices,!and!sometimes!even!lists!of!past!verdicts.!Many!firms!also!have!blogs!you!can!review!to!get!more!information!about!injury!cases.!

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Every!injury!attorney!I!know!offers!a!free!initial!consultation.!Take!your!personal!file!with!you!to!the!meeting!and!ask!the!attorney!for!his!or!her!opinion!on!whether!you!have!a!case!and!how!he!or!she!might!be!able!to!help!you.!

!

!I!have!provided!a!list!of!questions!below!that!you!may!want!to!ask!each!attorney!when!you!meet!with!him!or!her.!

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Questions&to&Ask&Each&Attorney!!!1.!!! Do!you!devote!100%!of!your!practice!to!handling!injury!

cases?!!

!2.!!! Tell!me!a!little!bit!about!your!client!services!policies.!

!!3.!!! Do!you!respond!to!client!phone!messages!and!eSmails!the!

same!day!they!are!received?!!

!4.!!! Do!you!have!a!client!satisfaction!guarantee?!

!!5.!!! Do!you!have!a!history!of!Bar!complaints?!

!!6.!!! Are!you!a!member!of!any!trial!lawyer!associations?!

!!7.!!! Have!you!written!any!articles!dealing!with!injury!law?!

!!8.!!! Have!you!spoken!at!events!or!seminars!on!the!subject!of!

personal!injury?!

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Things&to&Know&if&You&Want&to&Win!!There!are!many!steps!you!can!take!that!will!help!to!protect!your!rights!in!an!injury!case.!I!provided!some!suggestions!earlier!in!the!book!of!specific!actions!to!take!(or!avoid)!based!on!the!type!of!accident.!And!while!I!may!have!mentioned!the!following!earlier,!these!three!steps!are!very!important!and!bear!repeating.!

!#1:&Don’t&Delay&Medical&Treatment!

!We!get!calls!daily!from!clients!that!waited!too!long!to!seek!medical!treatment.!This!is!one!of!worst!things!a!person!can!do!to!harm!their!case.!If!a!person!does!not!receive!treatment,!then!the!at!fault!party’s!insurance!carrier!will!take!this!to!mean!that!person!is!not!injured.!Although!most!of!our!clients!do!receive!immediate!care!sometimes!there!are!extenuating!circumstances!that!prevent!a!person!from!receiving!needed!medical!treatment!such!as!uncertainty!of!how!to!get!treatment,!where!to!go!for!treatment,!lack!of!insurance!and!a!hope!their!injury!will!heal!when!instead!it!gets!worse.!

!If!you!have!been!injured!in!any!type!of!accident,!go!get!checked!out!by!a!doctor.!Sometimes!the!injuries!that!appear!to!be!the!most!serious!are!not,!while!“hidden”!damage!leads!the!accident!victim!to!believe!he!or!she!is!fine!when!in!fact!there!are!underlying!medical!issues.!As!an!example,!cuts!on!the!head!are!known!for!bleeding!profusely,!but!a!simple!laceration!may!be!stitched!up!and!heal!quickly.!A!blow!to!the!head,!however,!can!result!in!a!traumatic!brain!injury!that!may!cause!permanent!disability.!It!is!safer!to!go!get!checked!out.!

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If!the!paramedics!and!first!responders!to!the!accident!want!to!transport!you!to!the!emergency!room,!go!with!them.!If!your!symptoms!do!not!appear!until!the!next!day,!go!to!the!emergency!room!or!contact!your!doctor!immediately.!Do!not!ignore!your!symptoms!and!assume!you!will!get!better!!

!If!you!are!still!rattled!by!the!accident,!you!may!also!want!to!have!a!relative!or!friend!go!with!you!to!your!doctor’s!office.!He!or!she!should!be!responsible!for!asking!questions!(if!you!forget!them)!and!writing!down!the!doctor’s!instructions.!

!Here!are!some!things!to!remember!when!you!meet!with!the!doctor!or!medical!personnel:!

!1.!!! Be!honest!with!the!doctor.!He!or!she!will!need!to!have!

complete!information!about!the!accident!and!your!symptoms!to!make!an!accurate!diagnosis!and!set!up!a!treatment!plan.!

2.!!! Make!sure!the!doctor!knows!about!any!medications!(prescription!and!nonSprescription),!vitamins!or!supplements!you!are!taking.!

3.!!! Make!medical!personnel!aware!of!drug!allergies.!4.!!! Ask!the!doctor!to!explain!any!tests!or!procedures!he!

schedules!so!you!understand!why!they!are!being!done.!

5.!!! When!you!are!given!discharge!instructions,!make!sure!you!are!clear!on!what!needs!to!be!done!and!when.!Ask!questions!if!you!do!not!understand.!Ask!about!each!prescription!given,!including!what!each!is!for!and!about!any!drug!cautions!(take!with!food,!may!cause!drowsiness,!etc.)!

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6.!!! If!you!will!need!to!miss!work,!ask!for!a!doctor’s!note!now.!Emergency!rooms!are!busy!places!and!you!may!not!get!one!if!you!call!later.!

7.!!! Schedule!any!followSup!tests!or!appointments!as!soon!as!possible.!Do!not!miss!appointments!!

8.!!! If!you!have!any!questions!about!your!diagnosis!or!followSup!care,!do!not!leave!until!you!have!answers!and!understand.!

!

!The!reality!is,!the!longer!you!wait!to!go!to!the!doctor!and!begin!treatment!the!harder!it!is!to!prove!your!case.!If!you!wait!a!week!or!two!to!report!neck!pain!or!strained!ligaments,!the!insurance!company!may!try!to!claim!that!the!injury!is!the!result!of!activity!that!occurred!after!the!accident.!And!if!you!miss!appointments!or!do!not!follow!through!with!the!doctor’s!recommended!treatment!plan,!you!are!effectively!saying!that!you!do!not!believe!your!injury!is!serious.!It!is!better!to!see!a!doctor!and!have!the!injuries!documented!up!front.!Doing!so!may!protect!your!injury!claim!down!the!road.!

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#2:&Don’t&Sabotage&Your&Case!!Insurance!companies!are!in!business!to!make!money.!They!will!take!any!and!all!steps!necessary!to!protect!their!own!interests!–!not!yours!!It!is!critical!to!understand!that!while!the!atSfault!party’s!insurance!adjuster!may!be!very!friendly!and!seem!helpful,!his!(or!her)!duty!is!to!the!insurance!company!that!employs!him.!

!Do*Not*Accept*an*Immediate*Settlement!

!Insurance!companies!are!notorious!for!offering!a!meager!settlement!to!a!person!before!they!obtain!legal!counsel!in!the!hopes!they!will!accept!it.!Sometimes!these!offers!sound!like!a!lot!of!money,!but!when!you!look!closely!they!are!not.!While!you!may!think!they!are!making!the!offer!out!of!the!goodness!of!their!hearts,!in!reality!the!insurance!industry’s!own!studies!show!that!cases!with!an!attorney!on!average!settle!for!3!times!more!than!those!without.!Once%you%have%accepted%a%settlement,%you%cannot%go%back%and%ask%for%more%money—!the!case!is!finished.!Again,!the!goal!of!the!insurance!company!is!to!pay!out!as!little!as!possible!on!each!case.!As!a!personal!injury!attorney,!my!goal!is!to!get!the!best!settlement!possible!for!each!client.!

!Be*Honest!

!Occasionally!an!injured!person!has!either!stretched!the!truth!or!omitted!key!details!in!the!case.!This!sends!up!an!immediate!red!flag!to!the!insurance!adjuster!and!case!investigators.!Insurance!companies!and!investigators!have!access!to!huge!

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databases!of!information!about!you.!They!will!know!if!someone!has!been!in!prior!accidents!or!has!a!criminal!history.!

!I!mentioned!in!the!prior!section!the!importance!of!being!honest!with!your!doctor.!It!is!also!important!to!be!honest!with!any!law!firm!you!hire.!If,!for!example,!as!your!case!proceeds!you!are!called!in!for!a!deposition,!I!can!advise!you!of!questions!ahead!of!time;!it!is!much!more!difficult!if!I!am!unaware!of!a!situation.!

!Keep*Good*Records!

!You!want!to!begin!documenting!everything!immediately!after!the!accident!and!continue!until!after!the!case!is!settled.!Because!so!much!information!is!sent!via!eSmail!and!using!online!tools,!I!recommend!having!both!a!printed!and!electronic!copy!of!all!documents.!You!may!also!wish!to!store!a!backup!copy!offsite.!

!Here!is!a!list!of!the!types!of!documents!you!will!want!to!keep:!

!1.!!! A!copy!of!the!police!report,!or!incident!report,!if!

applicable;!2.!!! Your!notes,!photos!and!investigative!materials;!3.!!! Contact!information,!including!witnesses,!doctors,!

attorneys!and!insurance!representatives;!4.!!! All!correspondence!from!the!insurance!company;!5.!!! Copies!of!all!medical!records!and!paperwork;!6.!!! Receipts!from!medical!coSpayments,!medical!

equipment!purchases!or!rentals,!and!medicines;!7.!!! Photos!or!videos!documenting!your!injuries;!

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8.!!! A!record!of!lost!wages,!including!lost!sick!time!and/or!vacation!time;!

9.!!! A!copy!of!any!applicable!insurance!policies;!10.! Copies!of!any!secondary!insurance!policies!(health!

insurance,!workers’!compensation!(if!work!related),!short!and!longSterm!disability!policies!if!you!have!them);!

11.! If!an!auto!accident,!car!repair!information!and!any!rental!charges;!

12.! Receipts!and!paperwork!for!any!other!expenses!related!to!the!accident.!

!If!you!do!meet!with!a!law!firm!to!review!your!case,!take!a!copy!of!this!documentation!with!you!so!they!will!have!the!information!needed!to!determine!whether!you!have!a!case!and!what!that!case!might!be!worth.!

!Don’t*Underestimate*the*Value*of*Your*Case!

!If!you!have!been!to!the!doctor!recently,!you!are!aware!that!medical!expenses!are!going!through!the!roof.!It!is!easy!to!underestimate!the!costs!of!your!injury.!I!have!seen!cases!where!the!injured!person!was!not!improving!quickly!and!had!to!go!back!in!for!more!surgery!months!after!the!accident.!Rehabilitation!can!sometimes!take!months!or!even!years.!And!in!situations!where!the!injury!has!caused!permanent!damage,!the!future!value!of!ongoing!care,!medications!and!lost!wages!must!be!estimated!as!part!of!the!settlement.!

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Social*media!!You!can!bet!that!the!insurance!company’s!investigator!will!be!doing!a!background!check!on!you.!And!this!will!likely!include!searching!Google!to!see!what!pops!up,!checking!Facebook,!monitoring!Twitter,!looking!at!My!Space!or!YouTube,!etc.!

!You!can!quickly!ruin!your!accident!claim!by!posting!information!and!photos!in!a!public!place.!If!you!check!in!at!Six!Flags!and!then!post!photos!of!yourself!riding!a!roller!coaster,!you!can!bet!these!will!become!evidence!in!the!case.!I!also!recommend!that!you!not!post!details!about!the!accident!or!negative!comments!about!the!atSfault!party,!insurance!company,!etc.!online.!Do!not!sabotage!your!case!by!providing!the!insurance!company!with!the!ammunition!they!need!to!deny!a!settlement.!

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#3:&Don’t&Wait&to&Hire&an&Attorney!!People!offer!many!reasons!for!not!wanting!to!hire!an!attorney!to!handle!their!case.!Sometimes!they!think!it!will!cost!too!much;!others!believe!they!can!negotiate!a!settlement!themselves;!and!still!others!do!not!know!any!attorneys!and!are!not!sure!how!to!go!about!hiring!the!right!attorney!for!their!case.!

!I!would!like!to!address!each!of!these!reasons!so!that!you!may!understand!how!an!attorney!can!help!you!win!your!case.!For!those!who!believe!attorneys!cost!too!much,!know!that!injury!attorneys!work!on!a!contingency!basis.!This!means!that!they!do!not!get!paid!until!you!receive!a!settlement.!If!you!do!not!get!a!settlement,!they!do!not!get!paid.!The!Insurance!Research!Council’s!own!studies!have!shown!that!injured!individuals!who!are!represented!by!an!attorney!receive!an!average!settlement!more!than!three!times!higher!than!those!who!are!not!represented.!

!For!those!who!believe!they!can!negotiate!a!reasonable!settlement!themselves,!consider!that!the!insurance!adjuster’s!fullStime!job!is!dealing!with!accident!and!injury!cases.!He!or!she!is!backed!up!by!professional!investigators,!medical!experts,!vocational!specialists,!etc.!Based!on!past!experience,!the!insurance!company!knows!what!your!case!is!worth!and!they!are!guessing!you!do!not.!The!insurance!company!may!offer!an!initial!“lowball”!settlement!and!if!you!do!not!accept!it,!they!may!drag!their!feet,!requesting!more!and!more!proof!from!you!to!justify!the!settlement!amount!you!requested.!It!can!become!so!time!consuming!and!frustrating!that!many!

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people!will!settle!for!less!than!they!should!simply!to!be!done!with!it.!

!Finally,!for!those!of!you!who!have!never!hired!an!attorney!and!are!hesitant,!I!hope!this!book!has!provided!some!useful!information.!

!“I’m*in*over*my*head…”!

!I!frequently!get!calls!from!individuals!who!attempted!to!negotiate!with!the!insurance!company!by!themselves!but!recognized!too!late!just!how!difficult,!time!consuming!and!costly!the!process!can!be.!If!you!have!just!returned!to!work!after!the!accident,!will!you!have!time!to!pursue!your!claim?!Do!you!have!money!to!spend!up!front!to!pay!an!investigator!or!medical!experts?!There!are!many!things!to!consider!before!you!try!to!handle!the!case!by!yourself.!

!In!accident!cases!where!additional!investigation!is!required,!the!longer!the!timeframe!between!the!accident!and!investigation,!the!more!likely!it!is!that!evidence!will!be!lost!or!you!will!not!be!able!to!locate!witnesses.!While!I!have!been!able!to!help!many!of!these!injured!individuals,!there!have!been!some!mistakes!the!individual!made!that!I!could!not!fix.!In!these!situations,!the!process!has!been!harder!and!taken!more!time!than!average.!If!your!injuries!are!serious,!you!should!engage!an!attorney!immediately.!

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The*Statute*of*Limitations!!If!you!watch!TV!at!all,!I!am!sure!you!have!heard!about!Statutes!of!Limitation.!They!apply!to!both!criminal!and!civil!cases.!These!rules!set!time!limits!within!which!a!case!may!be!filed.!They!vary!by!state!and!by!type!of!claim.!Determining!the!actual!date!can!sometimes!be!tricky.!As!a!general!rule,!the!Statute!of!Limitations!for!filing!a!lawsuit!based!on!an!injury!claim!in!Georgia!is!two!years!from!the!date!of!the!accident.!

!If!you!plan!to!hire!an!attorney,!doing!so!early!will!not!only!help!with!any!investigations!needed,!as!mentioned!above,!but!will!give!the!attorney!more!time!and!allow!a!more!thorough!process.!You!can!damage!your!case!by!waiting!too!long!to!pursue!your!claim.!

!The!earlier!you!speak!with!an!attorney,!the!better!off!you!will!be.!The!attorney!will!review!the!specific!facts!of!your!injury,!determine!if!you!have!a!case,!estimate!a!value!of!the!case!and!determine!the!statute!of!limitations.!He!or!she!will!also!know!whether!additional!investigation!is!required!and!be!able!to!hire!medical!experts!to!review!your!records.!If!appropriate,!a!reasonable!settlement!may!be!negotiated!without!having!to!take!the!case!to!trial.!

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Summary!!I!have!presented!quite!a!bit!of!information!in!this!book,!and!hope!that!you!will!take!away!the!knowledge!you!need!to!protect!your!rights!and!give!you!the!best!chance!of!winning!your!case.!

!

!I!know!that!you!may!feel!alone!and!overwhelmed!by!your!injuries.!There!is!help!available!for!you.!I!wish!you!all!the!best!during!your!recovery.!Thank!you!for!reading!my!book;!I!hope!you!learned!something!new.!Feel!free!to!contact!us!directly!with!any!questions!or!comments.!

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About&The&Accident&and&Disability!Attorneys&of&Monge&&&Associates!

!Our*Philosophy!Our!Firm!is!committed!to!quality!work,!personal!attention!and!client!satisfaction.!You!want!to!win!your!case;!we!want!you!to!win,!too.!

!

!24/7*Personal*Service!When!we!have!a!question!or!a!problem,!we!want!an!answer,!not!an!answering!machine.!We!are!guessing!you!do,!too.!Our!Firm!offers!24/7!personal!service!so!you!can!connect!with!us!at!any!time.!Call!our!Client!Hot!Line!at!(770)!351S0651!or!1!(800)!HURTS911.!

!

!Client*Satisfaction*Guarantee!No!lawyer!can!ethically!predict!or!guarantee!the!outcome!of!your!case,!and!neither!can!we.!But!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!are!so!committed!to!quality!work,!personal!attention!and!client!satisfaction!that!we!!give!accident!victims!a!Client!Satisfaction!Guarantee.!

!If%you%are%not%100%%completely%satisfied%with%the%way%we%treat%you%and%your%claim,%during%the%first%30%days%after%hiring%our%firm,%you%may%take%your%file,%no%attorney%fees%and%no%questions%asked.!

!Our!firm!can!guarantee!several!things!as!well:!

!

!1.!!! Your!consultations!to!discuss!your!accident!and!

injuries!are!free.!

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2.!!! You!are!charged!no!upSfront!fees!when!we!take!on!your!case.!

3.!!! You!will!receive!a!written!fee!agreement!that!is!clear,!concise!and!fair.!

4.!!! You!will!not!be!charged!any!fees!or!costs!unless!we!win!your!case.!

!Free*Case*Review!We!will!review!your!case!for!free!–!no!strings!attached.!The!bottom!line!is!simple.!You!have!nothing!to!lose!by!contacting!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!for!an!evaluation!of!your!personal!injury!claim.!We!know!how!to!help.!

!

!Client*Bill*of*Rights!We!believe!as!our!client!you!have!the:!

1.!!! Right!to!talk!to!your!attorney,!case!manager,!or!paralegal!the!same!day!you!call.!

2.!!! Right!to!be!updated!regularly!and!in!a!timely!manner!as!to!the!progress!of!your!case.!

3.!!! Right!to!our!respect.!4.!!! Right!to!expect!competence!from!our!firm!and!all!who!

work!here.!5.!!! Right!to!know!the!truth!about!your!case.!6.!!! Right!to!prompt!attention!from!us.!7.!!! Right!to!have!your!legal!rights!and!options!explained!

in!plain!English!without!legal!mumbo!jumbo.!8.!!! Right!to!a!fair!written!fee!agreement!with!our!firm.!9.!!! Right!to!a!fair!fee!for!the!work!we!do.!10.! Right!to!make!the!ultimate!decision!on!your!case.!

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We!are!governed!by!a!higher!standard!called!the!Code!of!Ethics.!We!believe!we!must!live!by!these!ethics!in!all!that!we!do!and!say.!

!The!Firm!also!employs!a!Client!Advocate!to!ensure!you!never!feel!ignored!or!alone.!Just!as!our!team!members!are!here!to!give!you!the!experienced!and!aggressive!legal!representation!you!deserve,!our!Client!Advocate!is!here!to!make!sure!that!your!voice!is!heard.!

!

!Related*Cases!If!the!Firm!is!representing!you!in!a!personal!injury!case!and!you!have!a!workers’!compensation!claim!or!Social!Security!Disability!case!that!is!related!to!your!injury!claim,!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!would!be!happy!to!provide!assistance!with!these!related!claims.!Please!ask!us!for!more!details.!

!

!Charitable*Support!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!supports!various!charities!throughout!the!communities!we!serve,!including!the!Atlanta!Food!Bank,!American!Red!Cross,!homeless!programs,!Camp!Twin!Lakes!and!others.!

!

!We!are!also!a!proud!supporter!and!statewide!sponsor!of!Mothers!Against!Drunk!Driving!(M.A.D.D.).!We!have!seen!firsthand!the!damage!caused!by!drunk!drivers.!These!accidents!cause!physical,!emotional!and!financial!trauma!for!the!injury!victim!and!his!or!her!family.!It!is!all!the!more!difficult!knowing!that!the!“accident”!could!have!been!avoided.!

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Contact&Information!!If!you!would!like!to!learn!more,!please!visit!our!website,!like!us!on!Facebook!or!give!us!a!call.!

!Website:!BecauseYouWantToWin.com!Blog:!www.accidentattorneys911.com/articles!Facebook:!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!Office!Phone:!1.800.899.5696!

!!We!offer!a!newsletter!to!clients!and!friends!that!provides!valuable!information.!If!you!would!like!to!be!added!to!our!mailing!list,!please!sign!up!on!our!website.!

!

!Thank!you!for!reading!my!book.!I!hope!you!found!this!information!helpful.!If!you!have!questions!or!suggestions!for!future!books!or!articles,!please!feel!free!to!write!to!me!or!call!the!number!below:!

!Scott!Monge!The!Accident!and!Disability!Attorneys!of!Monge!&!Associates!8205!Dunwoody!Place,!Building!19!Atlanta,!GA!30350!(678)!579S0203!

!

!Do!you!know!someone!else!who!might!enjoy!a!copy!of!the!book?!Please!send!us!their!name!and!mailing!address!and!we!will!forward!them!a!copy.!Thank!you!again!for!your!interest.!

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Notes!

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Notes!

Secrets to Win Your Injury Case

“Our clients come to us in their time of greatest need.They have been injured in some sort of an accident that was nottheir fault, yet they and their families are paying the price. I wrotethis book because I believe it is important that anyone injured in anaccident have a basic understanding of what they should and shouldnot do in order to protect their rights under personal injury law.”~ Scott Monge

Whether you were injured in a motor vehicle accident, in a shoppingaccident, on the job or have a claim for disability benefits, your lifehas been turned upside down, both physically and emotionally –and probably financially. Secrets to Win Your Injury Case givesreaders insight into what things they should do to protect their rightsand exposes the biggest mistakes many injured people make thatdamage their case.

ABOUT THE AUTHORScott Monge has practiced law since 1993 and founded his law firm with the mission of helping people win their cases. He is listed in Who’s Who of America, has appeared on television related to legal services provided by his Firm, lectured at legal seminars, is a Trial Lawyer Member of numerous state organizations, volunteers on numerous State Bar Committees and is proud sponsor of many charities. Scott has a winning record both inside and outside the courtroom. He and his team of highly trained professionals welcome anyone with questions to call or click for a free case review and offer each client a satisfaction guarantee related to services provided by the Firm. When not working Scott enjoys spending time with family, movies and traveling.

secrets to win your injury case...secrets to win your injury case “ our clients come to us in...

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