What if I have old injuries that occurred before my accident -- should I tell my attorney about those?

Yes, definitely.  One of the most critical elements of any successful claim is that you be 100 percent honest and open with your attorney right from the start.  Failure to do so can sink your claim entirely or severely limit the amount of compensation you can collect for your injuries.

The reason why is that if you went to see a doctor or healthcare provider for a prior injury, you can bet that the insurance company will find out about it.  Bottom line -- if you lie about a prior injury or try to conceal it, and the insurance company discovers your dishonesty, your case has no shot.

On the other hand, if you are up front with your attorney and disclose all prior injuries, your attorney can figure out a strategy for dealing with the prior injury issue.