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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. Our website www.njlaws.com provides information
on civil cases we can be retained to represent people.
What's a herniated disc, pinched nerve, bulging discS?
According to www.spine-health.com, there are many different terms
to describe spinal disc pathology, and all are used differently
by different healthcare practitioners. Some examples of terms used
to describe spinal disc abnormalities include:
* Pinched nerve * Sciatica * Herniated disc (or herniated disk)
* Bulging disc, ruptured disc, or slipped disc * Disc protrusion
* Disc degeneration (or degenerative disc disease) * Disc disease
There is no agreement in the medical field as to the precise definition
of any of these terms. Often the patient hears his or her diagnosis
referred to in different terms by different practitioners and is
left wondering if there is any consensus on what is wrong. see http://www.spine-health.com/topics/cd/d_difference/diff01.html
Rather than focus on the terminology referring to spinal anatomy,
it's most helpful for patients to focus on understanding the clinical
diagnosis. It should be kept in mind that all the terms herniated
disc, pinched nerve, bulging disc, slipped disc, ruptured disc,
etc. refer to radiographic findings seen on a CT scan or MRI scan
(x-rays can indicate disc degeneration but cannot actually image
the disc itself). While radiographic findings are important, they
are not as meaningful in determining the source of the pain (the
clinical diagnosis) as the patient's specific symptoms and the spine
specialist's findings on physical exam.
Clinical diagnosis The key factor in the clinical diagnosis is
to determine if the patient has pinched nerve or if the disc space
itself is generating the pain.
1. Pinched nerve. A pinched nerve will generate radicular pain
(nerve root pain or sciatica). 2. Disc pain. If the disc itself
is painful, then this will generate either referred pain or axial
pain.
The follow 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 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 Car Insurance and 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 is 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
coverages 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 For clients who suffer a herniated disc, pinched nerve,
or protrusion/slipped disc, we want to provide assistance and instuctions.
If you have questions or concerns regarding these instructions,
we encourage you to feel free to contact the office at any time.
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