If you’ve been hurt in an accident and wish to file a personal injury claim, you may be entitled to receive financial recovery. However, to protect your rights, there are some common mistakes you need to avoid.
Our Lafayette personal injury attorneys at Clay Burgess list 7 mistakes to avoid after suffering physical injuries:
Failure to seek prompt medical assistance:
In any serious accident case, it’s important to seek instant medical advice. If you fail to seek quick medical aid, you may not only jeopardize your health, but your actions may also impact your financial recovery. Without medical documentation, you may not have the evidence you need to pursue a claim for monetary compensation.
Not being able to gauge the severity of your injuries:
When you get injured in a car collision, slip and fall, or any other vehicle accident, the medical treatment costs incurred on your injuries may go beyond your medical bills. For instance, you may:
- Suffer from chronic pain which may require medical therapy for years to come
- Be unable to work after the injury
- Incur financial and non-financial losses
Thus, to understand the worth of your case, you need to understand the severity of your injury.
Not having supporting documentation:
Successful personal injury claims have documentation validating how severe the accident was. Documentation may include witness statements, pictures, police reports, and insurance company estimates. Create a designated folder to safeguard all the required documents.
Negotiating correctly with the insurance company:
Insurance companies prioritize minimizing your claim. If you attempt to negotiate the claim without any in-depth understanding of the law, you may end up not receiving a fair settlement. Effective negotiation requires a comprehensive understanding of the law and this should be left to seasoned attorneys.
Not hiring an attorney:
When you are injured, your priority should be to seek the assistance of competent lawyers. Only experienced attorneys have complete knowledge of all the nuances of law and this helps them to recover maximum compensation for their clients.
Admitting your fault:
Even if you are partially at fault, it’s critical to consult an experienced lawyer. Establishing any fault requires an assessment of facts. It’s important to understand that even if you are partially at fault, you may still be entitled to financial compensation.
Opting for a quick settlement:
Whether you seek the assistance of an attorney or not, you need to avoid settling your case too soon. Insurance companies often apply multiple tactics to settle the case quickly and provide less than you deserve. It’s therefore, vital for you to make informed decisions to secure the best result for you and your family.
If you have a valid personal injury claim, we encourage you to contact us for a no-obligation consultation. Our Lafayette personal injury attorneys have years of experience in resolving complicated personal injury cases with ease. For legal queries, call us at (877) 234-7573
