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Coping With Legal Issues

When I started getting into trouble I became pretty acclimated to legal procedures. Calling my attorney and working out bail was just another way to spend a Saturday night. Unfortunately, the stiffer the charges, the more difficult it was to talk my way out of a bad situation. After so many charges, I found myself slapped with a long jail sentence, and I realized that I wanted to turn things around. Fortunately, my lawyer was able to walk me through yet another process, so that I could make the right changes. My blog discusses how to emotionally cope with legal issues so that you can start living a good life.

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Coping With Legal Issues

Preexisting Injuries and Auto Accidents

by Lillian Wheeler

Auto collisions can be costly. Many accidents result in injuries that require medical care, which can cause hospital bills and loss of wages to take a toll on your financial well-being.

Although new injuries are certainly possible in an auto accident, you may find that some preexisting injuries have been made worse by the collision. You can seek compensation in court for these aggravated injuries.

Fully Disclose Your Injury

The most important thing that you can do if you are planning to file a personal injury lawsuit following an auto accident is disclose any preexisting injuries you may have. Your attorney needs to know about these injuries so that he or she can factor them into your case.

A failure to disclose preexisting injuries can give the insurance company a reason to refuse your claim, making the recovery of financial compensation much more challenging. Be honest and upfront about your injuries and they shouldn't negatively affect your personal injury case.

Differentiate Between New and Old Symptoms

Once your attorney is aware of your preexisting injuries, he or she can help you identify how a car accident has affected these injuries. You may find that you are experiencing an increase in pain or inflammation or a loss of mobility after a car accident.

The impact of the collision can aggravate old injuries, causing significant discomfort. Any new symptoms that you are experiencing can serve as the basis for your personal injury lawsuit. Discuss your preexisting injuries and any new symptoms in full with your attorney as you prepare for court.

Use the Same Doctor

If you have preexisting injuries, the medical professionals that you rely on following an accident will be critical in helping to treat your injuries and make a case for financial compensation in court.

You should always use the same doctor who treated your preexisting injury when it was first sustained. This doctor will be familiar with the symptoms and limitations you faced after suffering the injury.

He or she can act as an expert witness to verify that an auto accident has caused an old injury to become a serious problem once again. This medical testimony might mean the difference between financial compensation and dismissal, so use the same doctor you saw for your original injury after an auto accident.

Preexisting injuries can complicate a personal injury case, but they don't have to derail the case. Disclose your preexisting injuries, identify how the accident has agitated them, and work with the same doctor to receive treatment. These actions will help you mount a valid legal case following an auto accident. Call a law firm like McMenamin & McMenamin, PS, for more information or assistance.

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