If you have been involved in a car accident, you must understand the importance of not hiding important things from your lawyer. Each state has its own laws regarding what your lawyer can and cannot know about the accident, whether through a subpoena or by court order. This is why it is crucial that you make sure to tell them everything, so they can properly represent you during your trial proceedings. This blog covers 7 things you should not hide from your lawyer.
1. Physical and Psychological Changes:
One of the first things your lawyer will require you to get a medical checkup. This is to ensure that there are no psychological or physical changes due to the accident. You may not see any changes in yourself, but your lawyer will know better. They will look for signs of PTSD and cognitive issues, which may manifest in your everyday life. The longer you wait to tell them, the bigger a disadvantage you are putting yourself at.
2. Insurance Information:
Whether you have your own or not, your lawyer will be looking into the insurance policy of the person who caused the accident. They will want to know if they have a legitimate policy that covers their liability in this kind of situation. A driver without such a policy will be in dire straits. Their lawyer will most likely settle on low, and you may never see any compensation at all. Hey, it’s one less thing to worry about, right?
3. Witness Information:
Depending on the kind of accident involved, you may want to ask if anyone saw the incident. Some states do not allow you to divulge this kind of information, and it is stressed that you do not tell your lawyer about the witnesses unless they have subpoena power. There may be someone who saw what actually happened and had no idea that it was a car accident. It would be best for your lawyer if they are informed about this to track down these people and get as much information from them as possible.
4. You were Drunk/High:
If you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is important that you tell your lawyer about this. Some states will make this known to the court, and there are very stiff penalties for you if it is indeed true. It might be in your best interest to let your lawyer know that you had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel because that might help to mitigate some of the losses caused by your negligence.
5. Blood Alcohol Content:
If you were driving under the influence of alcohol, you should not hide this fact from your lawyer. Blood alcohol content will be a big determining factor in your liability in an accident. Your lawyer will most likely advise you to not drink anymore and cut down on drinking at all, especially if this is your first time.
6. Duress:
Duress is meant to protect a person from placing themselves in danger. However, it does not have the same legal definition in every state. In some states, it will be hard for your lawyer to present a case in your favor if you tell them that you were threatened or persuaded. If you think about the situation and feel like you were pressured into doing something, tell your lawyer about it so they can plead against this. They will come up with a suitable defense.
7. Civil Lawsuit:
Your lawyer will tell you that civil lawsuits have no connection to criminal lawsuits, especially if you were the victim of a crime. If it involves someone who was not charged, there may be civil penalties for them to pay. It will be left to your lawyer’s discretion as to whether or not they pursue this option.
The buck stops with your lawyer, it is up to them to investigate and gather evidence for them to find a way for you to win the case and move on from there. By contacting Gainesville car accident lawyer with the correct information, they will be able to fight your case.
