It is very important that all personal injury attorneys dot I’s and cross T’s for so many different reasons. Just yesterday, I received a call on a case that was settled and closed almost a year ago from a doctor's office claiming that they were still owed a balance of over $7,000.00 on their $11,000.00!
My first reaction was, “uh oh!” But after pulling out the closed file and going through all of the paper work, and because I was diligent in the handling of the file, I was easily able to find the document needed and call the doctor's office to show them that their office had made an error.
I had to search though copies of letters, faxes, go online and print a copy of a cashed check from my bank, read my handwritten notes in order to extinguish this potential fire. Dates are important, when did I receive a lien, was the lien proper, when did I cut checks, who did I speak with; these are just a few things that were in my closed file so that
I could easily, without spending too much time, get to the bottom of the potential problem I was facing. Had I not properly documented my file, this could have been a disaster. So I encourage all PI attorneys to over document your file. Put notes in the file after every conversation that you have and be diligent in handling files for your clients because you just never know who you might encounter on the other side who is not being as diligent as you are!