We get a fair number of calls to our office from clients seeking information regarding their claims. Most of the clients wish to get some information, and then use that to make a decision about their future. We always offer free in-person and telephone consultations regarding claims, so it’s alright to keep asking the questions. 

Over time, we’ve developed a simple "how to" of methods you can use to ruin a legitimate cause of action. We guarantee that if you follow these simple recommendations, any claim you have for injuries or damages, or any defenses you’ll have asserted claims will be lost, and you’ll ensure the opposition is victorious – or at least that you’ll have to settle for a fairly small payment. 

1. Fail (forget) to tell your attorney everything. Quite simply, this is your best way to make sure you’ll lose. It’s easy to forget things when you’re "in the moment," but it’s always best if you never tell your attorney important information. If you can keep your attorney in the dark, you can guarantee he or she will be surprised, and you’re going to lose. If you want to guarantee defeat, never tell your attorney about past crimes, lawsuits, injuries, or similar claims. Attorneys love surprises, especially the night before trial, so keeping this information to yourself can guarantee that your attorney will find out at the most inopportune time, and cannot refute the information.
   
2. Fail (forget) to follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations. There is a reason you’re being prescribed a particular treatment regimen, and by not following the treatment schedule you’re making sure you single-handedly sinking your case. This is important because you’re attorney is arguing that you’re injured, your doctor is scheduling you for treatment, and everyone believes you’re genuinely injured, but you’ll prove that you aren’t, and you don’t  deserve any of the treatment or sympathy you’re receiving. Your failure to follow the schedule shows the defendant or insurer that you’re not as injured as you claim, and you don’t deserve any compensation for your injuries. You can reinforce this frivolous claim by missing doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, or rescheduling important surgeries multiple times.
   
3. Losing (misplacing) important documents. You can make sure that you’ll lose by never keeping important documents or transaction information. You often need to prove conversations took place, or agreements were made using emails, contracts, or other documentation. Never keeping these records easily turns your case into a "he said, she said" situation, and you’re guaranteeing you’ll have a difficult time proving your case. The greatest point is that it’s always more fun to make a case more difficult and expensive by requiring extra work and litigation.
   
4. Making statements or settling a claim against an opposing side without consulting an attorney. You learned early in kindergarten that two sides fighting against each other always want  differing objectives, but you decide that the "nice insurance agent "on the other side is trying to help you and treating you fairly, so you settle. You don’t even bother to get your own consultation or information, and therefore, their "adequate" compensation is a fair amount.
   
5. Trusting the friend who knows more than your attorney. It’s important for you to trust your friend’s advice who learned his legal insight from CSI: Miami or on the Discovery Channel. These friends have spent plenty of time listening to the tragic stories to by some cousin’s cousin about how they made one million dollars for their broken finger without using an attorney. Additionally, if you do hire an attorney, it’s even more important for you stop listening to your attorney’s advice, and always challenge him or her with "helpful" advice you picked up by searching Google or listening to that same friend who won the million dollars. Of course your attorney doesn’t have the necessary experience or education to adequately settle your claim, so any "helpful" advice you can challenge your attorney with will help settle your claim faster. Finally note that it’s also important to trust your friends over your attorney when you’re working to settle the claim. You believe your attorney would never recommend settling when it’s in your best interest, and you obviously know more than him, so fight your attorney every step along the way.
   

Obviously these are said in jest to those individuals who feel they’re smarter than their attorneys. You should always question your attorney’s recommendations when you feel they’re contrary to the goals you discussed in your initial meeting. If so, then speak with your attorney regarding the methodology. Remember, it’s a client’s decision to settle a claim, but the attorney should have the discretion to decide the methods used to reach the end results.