If you have been hurt in a car or truck accident, chances are good that you are mainly focused on how to heal from your current injuries and how to handle your medical bills.

Chances are also good that you aren't really thinking about prior injuries or accidents that you've had. However, your injury and accident history is critical information that could end up limiting your ability to collect compensation if you don't share it up front and truthfully with your attorney.

Why is that?

Well, for starters, the insurance company will stop at nothing to limit the amount of money it has to pay out for claims, and you can bet that its investigators will be digging up every bit of information they can find to use against you.

The insurance company's goal will be to try to show a link between your current injuries and some accident or injury you've had in the past. The key is that your attorney can prepare for and deal with these arguments and tactics -- if he or she knows about your past ahead of time.

Never let the insurance company be the first one to know about your history. Be 100 percent honest with your attorney about your past and give yourself the best opportunity to collect for your injuries.