Brain
Injury in Accidents |
Kenneth Vercammen
& Associates Law Office helps people injured due to the negligence
of others. We provide representation throughout New Jersey. The insurance
companies will not help. Don't give up! Our Law Office can provide experienced
attorney representation if you are injured in an accident and suffer a
Brain Injury.
Is it a Brain Injury ?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), traumatic injuries to the brain, also called
intracranial injury, or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma
causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating
head injury and is one of two subsets of acquired brain injury (ABI).
The other subset is non-traumatic brain injury (e.g. stroke, meningitis,
anoxia). Parts of the brain that can be damaged include the cerebral hemispheres,
cerebellum, and brain stem (see brain damage). TBI can cause a host of
physical, cognitive, emotional, and social effects.
Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent
of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery
to permanent disability or death. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traumatic_brain_injury
The following happens in accident cases, both car accidents and fall downs.
Financial Recovery for persons seriously injured in accidents
1. Kenneth Vercammen Helps Injured persons
A person who is injured as a result of the negligence of another person
is what we in the legal profession refer to as a personal injury claimant.
In other words, they have been injured as a result of an accident, and
you now wish to prosecute a claim against an opposing party. As the attorney
of record, I can bring an action for the injured person. Therefore, I
request that all clients do as much as possible to cooperate and help
in every way. The purpose of this article is to describe the procedure
that we may follow and give you sufficient instructions to enable you
to assist us in this undertaking. Needless to say, helping us is just
another way of helping yourself.
2. Clients should provide my office with the following
1. Any bills
2. All Hospital or doctor records in your possession
3. Car Insurance Declaration Sheet if you were in a car accident
4. Car Insurance Policy if car accident
5. Photos of damage to any property
6. Photos of accident site
7. Major Medical Insurance Card
8. Paystub if lost time from work
3. Attorney- Client Confidential Relationship
First, I want to thank our clients for giving me the opportunity to assist
them in their case. I am a legal professional and I have great pride and
confidence in the legal services that I perform for clients during our
relationship as attorney-client. If you have concerns about your case,
please call my office at (732) 572-0500.
We feel that this case is extremely important-not only to you, but to
this office as well. This is not simply a matter of obtaining just compensation
for you, although that is very important. We take professional pride in
guiding our clients carefully through difficult times to a satisfactory
conclusion of their cases.
4. Submission of Bills to Insurance / Major Medical
If you are in a car accident, you should submit your medical bills to
your own car insurance company first. Your car insurance is required by
New Jersey law to provide PIP (Personal Injury Protection) benefits under
the No Fault Law. This means your car insurance company, not the careless
driver, pay the majority of medical bills.
If you do not own a car, but live with someone who owns a car, we can
try to help you submit medical bills to their car insurance company.
If this is not a car accident, submit all bills immediately to your major
medical.
Please provide car and major medical insurance information to each doctor,
MRI facility and treatment provider. Please request they submit bills
and attending physician reports to car insurance and major medical. There
are now minimum deductibles under the PIP Law. There is an initial $250.00
deductible, and thereafter your car insurance company pays 80% of medical
bills under a medical fee schedule established by the State Dept. of Insurance.
Your primary treating doctor must also follow "Care Path". Submit
portions of bills the car insurance does not pay to your major medical
carrier (ex- Blue Cross, Connecticut General). The Law Office of Kenneth
Vercammen can provide a more detailed brochure explaining how car insurance
works.
Never give a signed statement to the claims adjuster representing the
other driver's insurance company. The same goes for a phone recording.
They may be used against you in court to deny your claim. Speak with your
personal injury attorney first.
WHILE YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CASE IS PENDING:
It is important that you --
1. DO NOT discuss your case with anyone except your doctors and attorney.
2. DO NOT make any statements or give out any information.
3. DO NOT sign any statements, reports, forms or papers of any kinds.
4. DO NOT appear at police or other hearings without first consulting
with your attorney.
INFORM YOUR ATTORNEY PROMPTLY of any notice, request or summons to appear
at any such hearings.
5. Refer to your attorney, anyone who asks you to sign anything or to
make any statement or report or who seeks information concerning your
case.
6. Direct your doctor and other treatment providers not to furnish or
disclose any information concerning your case to any entity other than
your insurance company without YOU AND YOUR ATTORNEY'S WRITTEN PERMISSION.
7. You may have insurance coverage such as liability, collision, accident,
Blue Cross, Blue Shield or Major Medical which require prompt attention.
However, be sure to have your treatment providers send bills immediately
to all of your insurance companies.
8. Notify your attorney promptly of any new developments. Small things
may be important. Keep your attorney informed.
9. Maintain accurate records of all information and data pertaining to
your case.
10. If you or any witnesses should move, be sure to notify your attorney
of the new address.
5. Diary
We want you to keep a diary of your experiences since your accident. In
addition to this daily record, we also ask you to start describing a single
day in the course of your life. In other words, describe what you do when
you get up in the morning, the first thing you do after you go to work,
what type of work and effort you put into your employment, what activities
you engage in after work, etc. In other words, we need you to describe
the changes in your working life, your playing life, your life as a husband
or wife or child or parent. In your written description of your day, we
would appreciate your explanation in the greatest detail possible and
in your own words how the accident and subsequent injuries have affected
your life, your personality, and your outlook. And remember that suffering
does not entail mere physical pain; suffering can be emotional and can
be transmitted to your family, friends, and co-workers. When you have
completed this description, please return it to this office in the enclosed
envelope.
Keep a diary of all matters concerning this accident-no matter how trivial
you think it may be. You should include notes on the treatments you receive,
therapy, casts, appliances, hospitalization, change of doctors, change
of medication, symptoms, recurrence, setbacks, disabilities and inconveniences.
If you have any doubt about the propriety of including some particular
information, please call the office and let us assist you.
6. Record expenses
You can also begin to set up a system for recording the expenses incurred
in conjunction with your claim in minute detail. Medical and legal expenses
are a strong part of the value of your lawsuit, so good records of these
expenses must be kept at all times.
From time to time, however, there will be expenses incurred that you must
keep track of yourself. We ask you to make every effort to avoid any possible
error or inaccuracy as jurors have a relentless reverence for the truth.
Keep your canceled checks and your list of expenses together, for we will
need them at a later date.
Your attorney will keep track of your legal expenses, which may include
costs of filing, service of process, investigation, reports, depositions,
witness fees, jury fees, etc.
7. Investigation and Filing of Civil Complaint in Superior Court
Procedurally, the following events occur in most personal injury cases.
First, your attorney must complete our investigation and file. This will
involve the collection of information from your physician, your employer,
and our investigator. We will need your Doctors to provide us with copies
of all bills, medical records and possibly a medical report.
When we feel that we have sufficient information to form an opinion as
to the financial extent of your damages, we will commence negotiations
with the opposition for a settlement. If the insurance company will not
make an adequate offer, then a Complaint and Case Information Statement
is prepared by your attorney. It is filed in the Superior Court, Law Division.
Your attorney then will prepare a summons and have the defendants personally
served with the Summons and Complaint. The defendant, through their insurance
company, must file an "Answer" within 35 days.
8. Interrogatory Questions and Discovery
The Answer is followed by a request for written interrogatories. These
are questions that must be answered by each party. The Superior Court
has set up certain "Form" Interrogatories which are contained
in the Rules of Court. Generally, written interrogatories are followed
by the taking of depositions, which is recorded testimony given under
oath by any person the opposition wishes to question. The deposition is
just as important as the trial itself. In the event you are deposed during
the course of this action, you will receive detailed instructions as to
the procedure and will be requested to watch a videotape. After taking
depositions, the case will be set down for an Arbitration. If the parties
do not settle after the Arbitration, the case will be given a trial call
date.
Altogether, these procedures may take from six months to several years,
and your patience may be sorely tried during this time. However, it has
been our experience that clients who are forewarned have a much higher
tolerance level for the slowly turning wheels of justice.
9. Doctor/ Treatment
It will help your case to tell us and your doctors about any injury or
medical problems before or after your accident. Good cases can be lost
by the injured person's concealing or forgetting an earlier or later injury
or medical problem. Insurance companies keep a record of any and all claims
against any insurance company. The insurance company is sure to find out
if you have ever made a previous claim.
Tell your doctors all of your complaints. The doctor's records can only
be as complete as what you have given. Keep track of all prescriptions
and medicines taken accompanied by the bills. Also save all bottles or
containers of medicine.
10. Bills
Retain all bills which relate to your damages, including medical expenses,
hospital expenses, drugs and medicines, therapy, appliances, and anything
needed to assist you in your recovery. If possible, pay these bills by
check or money order, so that a complete record may be kept. If this is
not possible, be certain to obtain a complete receipt with the bill heading
on it, to indicate where the receipt came from and the party issuing it.
11. Evidence
Be certain to keep anything that comes into your possession which might
be used as evidence in your case, such as shoes, clothing, glasses, photographs,
defective machinery, defective parts, foreign substances which may have
been a factor in your accident, etc. Be sure to let the office know that
you have these items in your possession.
12. Photographs
Take photographs of all motor vehicles, accident site, etc., that may
be connected directly or indirectly with your accident. Again, be sure
to let the office know that you have such photographs.
13. Keep your attorney advised
Keep this office advised at all times with respect to changes in address,
important changes in medical treatment, termination of treatment, termination
of employment, resumption of employment, or any other unusual change in
your life.
14. Lost wages
Keep a complete record of all lost wages. Obtain a statement from your
company outlining the time you have lost, the rate of salary you are paid,
the hours you work per week, your average weekly salary, and any losses
suffered as a result of this accident. Where possible, also obtain other
types of evidence such as ledger sheets, copies of time cards, canceled
checks, check stubs, vouchers, pay slips, etc.
15. New information
In the event that any new information concerning the evidence in this
case comes to your attention, report this to the Attorney immediately.
This is particularly true in the case of witnesses who have heretofore
been unavailable.
16. Do not discuss the case
The insurance company may telephone you and record the conversation or
send an adjuster (investigator) who may carry a concealed tape recorder.
You should not discuss your case with anyone.
Obviously, we cannot stress too strongly that you DO NOT discuss this
matter with anyone but your attorney or immediate, trusted family. You
should sign no documents without the consent of this office. Remember
that at all times you may be photographed and investigated by the opposition.
If you follow the simple precautions which we have set out in your checklist,
we feel that we will be able to obtain a fair and appropriate amount for
your injuries. If you get any letters from anyone in connection with your
case, mail or fax them to your attorney immediately.
17. Questioning
If any person approaches you with respect to this accident without your
attorney's permission, make complete notes regarding the incident. These
notes should include the name and address of the party, a description
of the person, and a narrative description of what was said or done. Under
no circumstances should you answer any question(s). All questions should
be referred to your attorney's office.
18. Investigation by Defendant Insurance Company
Permit us to reiterate at this time that the opposition's insurance company
will in all probability have a team of lawyers and investigators working
diligently to counter your claim. During the course of their investigation,
it is quite possible that they may attempt to contact you through various
(and sometimes, devious) methods. Please do not make their jobs any easier
for them by answering their questions.
We cannot emphasize too strongly that you should refrain at all times
from discussing this matter with anyone--and that includes your employer,
your relatives, your neighbors, and even your friends. Of course, there
are exceptions to this rule.
If there are friends or neighbors or relatives who know all of the facts
and circumstances surrounding the accident and can be of assistance to
you, then they should be referred to this office so that their natural
sympathy can be channeled into an effective asset for you.
Insurance companies pay money to claimants when they are satisfied there
are both liability and damages that support a recovery. They can be expected
to thoroughly investigate the facts of the accident and any past injuries
or claims. The insurance company will obtain copies of all of the claimant's
past medical records.
19. The value of a case depends on the Permanent Injury, medical treatment
and doctor's reports
Undoubtedly, you have questions as to how much your case is worth. We
are going to be frank: The fact of the matter is there can be no answer
to this question until we have completed the investigation in your case.
Once we complete our investigation, of course, we can make a determination
as to the amount of the defendant's liability, if any, and even at that
we will only be at a starting point. After that, we must obtain all necessary
information concerning your lost wages, your disability, your partial
disability, your life changes, and your prognosis. You may rest assured
of one thing, however, and that is the fact that your case will not be
settled below its true value, that is the fair compensation for the injuries
you have received. You may also rest assured that no settlement agreement
will be entered into without your consent.
Conclusion
We appreciate that this is a great deal of information to absorb. We also
appreciate that our requests for client's assistance have been numerous.
However, we are certain that our clients appreciate having this information
from the outset. Each request and bit of information given here represents
an important part in recovering full value for your injury. Therefore,
we respectfully request your full cooperation. If you have questions or
concerns regarding these instructions, we encourage you to feel free to
contact the office at any time.
CALL KENNETH A. VERCAMMEN, ESQ. 732-572-0500 for an appointment
About Kenneth Vercammen:
Kenneth Vercammen is a Litigation Attorney in Edison, NJ, approximately
17 miles north of Princeton. He often lectures for the New Jersey State
Bar Association on personal injury, criminal / municipal court law and
drunk driving. He has published 125 articles in national and New Jersey
publications on municipal court and litigation topics. He has served as
a Special Acting Prosecutor in seven different cities and towns in New
Jersey and also successfully defended hundreds of individuals facing Municipal
Court and Criminal Court charges.
In his private practice, he has devoted a substantial portion of his professional
time to the preparation and trial of litigated matters. He has appeared
in Courts throughout New Jersey several times each week on many personal
injury matters, Municipal Court trials, matrimonial hearings and contested
administrative law hearings.
Since 1985, his primary concentration has been on litigation matters.
Mr. Vercammen gained other legal experiences as the Confidential Law Clerk
to the Court of Appeals of Maryland (Supreme Court), with the Delaware
County, PA District Attorney Office handling Probable Cause Hearings,
Middlesex County Probation Dept. as a Probation Officer, and an Executive
Assistant to Scranton District Magistrate Thomas Hart in Scranton, PA.
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
website: www.njlaws.com
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