In order to obtain a just settlement of your claim, in a prompt and an expedient manner, the following suggestions and guidelines should be followed to assist any law office that you may hire.

1. Change of Address or Telephone Number:
   Should you change your address or telephone number, please contact your attorney immediately.

2. Follow Your Doctor's Orders:
   Follow your doctor's orders. Keep all scheduled appointments. Return to your health care providers as often as necessary. Update your lawyer immediately if you see new or additional doctors or other health care providers. Their names, addresses and phone numbers are very important.

3. A Daily Diary:
   You might wish to keep a daily or weekly diary of your injuries, treatment and progress. Your decision regarding this might be determined by the nature and severity of your particular injury. Such a diary might include the manner in which the accident affected your life; the frequency of pain and suffering and which parts of the body are affected; the types of pain such as "throbbing", "stabbing" or "burning" sensation; and the types of medication taken with results obtained.

   If a diary is kept, simply put it in your words: grammatical precision and artistic quality are not essential. It never hurts to keep a diary.

4. To Whom Are You Speaking?
   Let you attorney talk for you. Avoid discussing your accident with anyone except your attorney. Your own insurer may desire to take your statement. If you are notified of this desire, immediately notify your lawyer's office. Never speak to the other party's insurer. If asked, call your attorney immediately.

5. Keep the Evidence:
   Keep your prescription receipts, ambulance, hospital and medical bills, property damage estimates, and other evidence of accident.

   If you keep a diary, log mileage incurred in obtaining your treatment. Otherwise, you might simply log your treatment, the date, and the office to which you traveled for treatment.

   Generally, keep a notation of the time you lose from work. If this time only amounts to a couple of days, further proof of loss (income tax returns for wage loss verification from the employer) may not be required.

6. Miscellaneous:
   If you come upon or receive any new information concerning the accident (additional witnesses, etc.) immediately inform your lawyer's office. If you have taken any photographs, provide them to your attorney.

   If any of your lost wages consist of "tokes", you will probably want to provide copies of a year to two of tax returns. This may well be required if you are off work for more than a couple of days. Notify your lawyer when you are about to return to work so that it can be decided the quickest way, if necessary, to submit a wage-loss verification form to your employer.

Conclusion
Your brief review of this material, and general compliance with these rules and suggestions, will assist in a more prompt settlement/resolution of your claim. Remember, that this type of cooperation is essential in a personal injury claim, whomever you decide to hire as your lawyer.