A good lawyer should never let their client talk to the insurance adjuster. As a matter of fact, once a lawyer is on the case and notifies the co of such, then the adjuster can’t talk any more to your client. I personally advise my clients to tell the adjuster when questioned before the co knows I have been retained, to say they would be happy to talk to them but their lawyer friend has advised them not to do so if the situation ever comes up. Ask the adjuster to give you his/her name, and after you call for approval, you will call them back. That way you are the good guy and the lawyer is the bad guy for not allowing the plaintiff to talk.
Remember that Silence is Golden. It is not only what you say, BUT what the adjuster or officer THOUGHT HE HEARD YOU SAY. DON’T GIVE A STATEMENT TO ANY INSURANCE CO OR COP WITHOUT YOUR LAWYER’S OK.
Your lawyer will encourage you to get immediate med attention. S/he will explain why you should have taken the ambulance to the hospital, rather than driving there yourself.
The bottom line is you should never HANDLE AN ACCIDENT CASE YOURSELF. Getting the maximum recovery is a “work of art”. Don’t put your bills through Medicare or Medicaid. There are many reasons, but just don’t do it. Discuss it with your lawyer first.
DON’T TREAT WITH the WRONG DOC. You should not use your regular doctor! Instead consider one your lawyer suggests; one that you had not seen before. Your regular doctor’s file has all your prior complaints and injuries and we all have skeletons in our closet…things you do not realize are skeletons. The insurance company may interpret the following as a skeleton: prior accidents; seeing a shrink (that does not play well in front of some jurors unless you see the doc for this accident); having a venereal disease; having had an abortion (without sharing with your spouse); having an alcohol or drug issue etc.
It is important you SEE A DOCTOR EXPERIENCED WITH PREPARING MED/LEGAL REPORTS: You want a doctor who is not only a good physician, but is experienced preparing MED/LEGAL reports. The doctor’s description of your pain is critical. That is why for years I lectured to the International College of Surgeons at their annual conference on… “How to Write a Med/Legal Report”.
DON’T HIRE AN OUT OF TOWN LAWYER: Though good lawyers, they will not know the local judges and court personnel (clerks and bailiffs) and a lawyer can often get a lot of info from them…if they are friends.
DON’T POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA (FB): Don’t post that you’re feeling great or running to play tennis or golf. The insurance company will argue if you were well enough to play a sport you couldn’t be hurt that badly. Social media is the biggest advance for insurance companies, who no longer have to hire private investigators. They learn from your daily posts how you are doing and that could be the kiss of death for your case. Take down your social media until the case is over. The insurance company can learn of your friends and have investigators talk to them and learn how healthy you are. Your friends may assume you are ok because you do not complain.
You must realize that insurance companies do whatever they can to pay less money on a case… AUTO, HURRICANE, FLOODS, FIRE… IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. You will not be in goods hands. They are not your good neighbor and they will not give you a Piece of the Rock.
Coachella= Traffic Jams/Accidents/DUI
My motto, and the ending of every legal column for many years, has been: Being Under the Influence of MJ is just as bad as Alcohol or Drugs. SO DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR BE IMPAIRED WITH
MARIJUANA…DUI’s include impairment by Alcohol or a Prescriptive or non-prescriptive substance. SO…“DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT. CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER. THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”. SO DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER.
IF YOU GET STOPPED AFTER USING ALCOHOL AND MJ (WITH THC), THEN DON’T TAKE A DUI BLOOD TEST.
IF STOPPED AFTER SMOKING OR IN POSSESSION OF MJ, Remember: Silence is Golden and Handcuffs are Silver, so DON’T TALK to the POLICE without attorney Gribow’s permission. Let GRIBOW be the bad guy, and you as the client, be cooperative and the good guy.
IDEAS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW (760) 837-7500 dale@dalegribowlaw.com
“Though I am sometimes referred to as a DUI criminal defense lawyer, I choose to not view my clients as “criminals”. I prefer to view them, and more importantly to treat them, as good, honest people that have found themselves in a scary and unfortunate situation…after screwing up.”
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks and drives and gets arrested for a DUI.
I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers in a Personal Injury Accident for their Negligence, that caused the damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) client .
DRINKING AND TEXTING BOTH CAUSE ARRESTS AND ACCIDENTS, OR MAKE A DRIVER LESS LIKELY TO AVOID A DUI INDUCED ARREST OR ACCIDENT… THAT WOULD NOT BE THEIR FAULT.
BEING INTOXICATED, IS JUST AS SERIOUS AS BEING INTEXTICATED.
A DRIVER MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO AVOID AN AT FAULT ACCIDENT.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS “DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE OR TEXT, AND GET A DUI OR ACCIDENT… CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER….THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN CALLING ME”.
DALE GRIBOW
REPRESENTING THE INJURED AND CRIMINALLY ACCUSED
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-22
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
“PREEMINENT” Rating – Martindale Hubbell Legal Directory
“BEST Attorneys of America” Selected by “Rue” (Limited to Top 100 Attorneys/state)
“10 Best Attorneys” for California
Legal Eagle “Best and Brightest Legal Minds” -The Prestigious Palm Springs Life Magazine
