You Are Your Best Advocate

You are your best advocate when it comes to your injury case.

Don’t get me wrong, finding an Injury attorney you trust that has experience with our workers’ compensation system is the first step to making one of the most difficult periods in your lives a lot easier. If you are like the vast majority of Mississippians you won’t know a thing about workers’ compensation until you or someone you love gets hurt. Being injured at work is a scary and (more often than it should be) difficult process. Having someone on your side that knows the law and how it works is an invaluable key to a good outcome. What will make or break your case however is you. You are your best advocate.

How can you be your own advocate?

1. Be proactive. Being represented by an Injury attorney does not change the fact that this is your case and your life. You are in charge of making sure your attorney is aware of anything that happens that could affect your case. Like I said, as much as sometimes we act like we can, we can’t read minds or predict the future. And while you shouldn’t call every week for an update, do whatever you can to help the attorney help you.
2. Be organized. Keep up with your medical records and get them to your attorney. If your physician will let you take home records of your visit, do so. Not only will that help you understand your injury and treatment, it keeps your attorney updated with your care.
3. Be open and honest. That applies to both your lawyer and your doctors. I am constantly telling my clients that they don’t teach mind reading in law school, and I am willing to bet they don’t teach it in med school either. Don’t expect your doctor to be able to look at you and figure out what is wrong, help them understand.
4. Be accepting. Lawyers are sometimes called counselors because not only are we here to represent you on your case but to also give advice. That’s why a critical part of finding the right Injury attorney is going to both someone with experience and someone you can trust. While we are human and make mistakes, if you find yourself not wanting to listen to your attorney’s advice, you may not trust your lawyer. Before you cut bait you should think about whether your expectations are in line with the law and the facts or perhaps unrealistic.

Every case is different, and while I can’t promise any particular outcome, I can predict that if you become your own best advocate with your claim and your life in general you are much more likely to have better results.

Ray L. Gustavis

While you are your own best advocate, you should not go through this alone. If you are ready to take the first step towards a Workers Compensation or Personal Injury attorney with experience that you can trust, contact Chhabra & Gibbs, P.A. for a free consultation at 601-948-8005 or by going to our website to use our online chat or contact form.