Getting injured can be an extremely traumatic experience. Furthermore, the time, effort, and energy in obtaining proper medical treatment and recuperating from the injury can be substantial. Personal injuries are widespread in the US, with the National Center for Health Statistics recording 24.5 million visits to emergency departments due to unintentional injuries. There are many circumstances when you may be able to get compensation as a result of an injury. But, it’s crucial to keep in mind that you may end up making some common mistakes which might reduce or negate the possibility of recovering compensation from the party who caused the injury to you. Let’s look at five mistakes to avoid when pursuing a personal injury case.
1) Not engaging a lawyer since you think you can’t afford one.
The majority of lawyers take an upfront payment to handle legal matters for you. However, most personal injury lawyers will only charge you contingency fees. That means they’ll take your case without any upfront payment and will only collect a fee if they are obtaining a successful settlement in your matter. In such a scenario, you have nothing to lose by hiring a lawyer since you’ll need to pay them just a certain percentage of your settlement amount, and that too only if the lawyer successfully obtains a favorable settlement for you. However, It is vital for you to know how to pick the right lawyer for your needs.
2) Giving up after your first attorney drops the case
There may be certain instances when a personal injury drops your case after investigating the claim. This may happen due to many reasons, however, it is important not to lose heart and contact other reliable attorneys who would be willing to fight for you. Have a look at some personal injury stories that will highlight how clients were able to successfully obtain an appropriate settlement even after their first attorney dropped the case.
3) Giving a recorded statement to an insurance company
Most people think that insurance companies will always do the right thing and that their representatives will be understanding and sympathetic. However, what happens is usually the opposite. Remember that an insurance company will not be looking out for the interests of anyone who is a victim of negligence. Instead, they’ll be looking out for their company’s interest and their own monetary interest. There is never a good reason for anyone to give a recorded statement to an insurance company when it comes to a personal injury claim. However, this is usually the first thing they’ll ask for, and you should always take legal advice about what to do in such circumstances.
4) Writing about being injured on social media channels
With social media growing in use over the last decade, it’s easy to write about the nature of your injury on social media. However, you should remember that social media is one of the first places that an insurance company is likely to go as part of the claim investigation process. Any online posts, videos, or photos you post on social media may be used as evidence against you to raise doubt about your injuries, your accident, and even your character. If you are injured and have lodged a personal injury claim, you should stop sharing information about yourself on social media channels until your claim is resolved.
5) Accepting an initial denial of your claim by the insurance company
An insurance company is likely to deny your claim, especially if you haven’t engaged a lawyer. They do this to test the waters and see if they can get away without paying you any money. But, if you do have a valid claim and you retain legal counsel, in all probability, you’ll be able to get the insurance company to reconsider the denial by filing a lawsuit or even threatening litigation.
