Open communication with your lawyer is important for the success of the case. It is strange when clients hide certain information from their personal injury lawyer.
If you’re such a person, then you need to change your ways because you might be hurting your case. This article will reveal how concealing information from your PI lawyer hurts your case.
Compromises Your Credibility
As far as legal cases are concerned, credibility is the foundation. One simple way to destroy your credibility is to conceal information when filing a personal injury lawsuit, which is exposed later on. When this information is revealed, the defending counsel can use the inconsistencies in your story to question your credibility.
The defending counsel can suggest to the court that the fact that you withheld information about the case from your lawyer makes it likely that you’ll withhold information from the court as well. With such a question of credibility hovering over your head, the jury and judge might be swayed against you, which can reduce the possibility of winning the case.
Undermines the Strategy of Your Lawyer
Lawyers build their cases on the available information they’ve gathered. How they present the case and the strategy they use also depend on the available information. So, if there is information they don’t have that you’re hiding, it can affect the effectiveness of their strategy.
A typical example is failure to tell your lawyer about injuries you’ve had in the past. If your lawyer builds a strategy, thinking the current injury is the first you’ve ever experienced, the defense can dismantle their strategy by revealing the truth. The result might cause you to lose the case or receive less compensation than you’re due.
Leads to Ethical and Legal Violations
The practice of law is bound by ethics and legal obligations, and lawyers are required to provide a complete and honest representation of their clients. When you conceal information from your lawyer, you put them in a position where they might violate these ethical and legal obligations.
The court could penalize you and your lawyer if they discover that you withheld information. Moreover, your case might also be dismissed altogether.
Hinders Settlement Negotiations
The outcome of a settlement negotiation depends on how strong your case is. If you conceal information that is later revealed, it can weaken the strength of your negotiation.
The liable parties might take back their offer or give less compensation since the revelation of the information reduces the compelling nature of your case. Ultimately, full disclosure to your lawyer allows them to negotiate strongly, thereby securing the best compensation.
Increases Legal Costs
Lawyers sometimes use the contingent fee arrangement, which means that they get paid only if the case is successful. You can read this post to find out the different types of legal fees. However, there are other legal costs you have to pay for as your case progresses.
Concealing information might just cause the case to linger as your lawyer tries to adjust his strategy in light of the newly revealed information. This means your lawyer spends more resources and time navigating the case. As a result, it might take longer for the case to resolve, and you might have to spend more on legal costs.
So, it’s wise to let your attorney know everything from the beginning to ensure the process is smoother and faster. Full disclosure and transparency give you the best chance of getting the best outcome when you file a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer is there to help you, so you shouldn’t hide anything from them. Cooperate with them to get the best results.