Your Personal Injury Case: Don't Make These Five Mistakes

30 November 2015
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Being involved in a car wreck can mean that your life is temporarily in a state of upheaval, leaving you stressed out and possibly injured as well. You may find yourself dealing with a wrecked vehicle and financial issues because of the accident, all of which can really take a toll on you. You are in a perilous state, and it would be easy to overlook the issues below. Read on to learn more about how to avoid making mistakes after you have been in an accident that was not your fault.

1.  Failing to get your injuries properly documented. Your medical evidence is the single most important piece of the compensation puzzle. Not only should you seek immediate medical help for your physical and mental injuries as a result of the accident, but you must also begin to document the situation yourself. A journal of the accident and the resulting medical treatments can prove an invaluable tool when the personal injury process begins to drag on for months. Don't forget to fully describe how the accident has affected your emotional health and well-being as well as that of your family, which is a primary component of proving pain and suffering.

2.  Failing to act on your claim expeditiously. All states have in place a statute of limitations rule for personal injury claims, so don't delay in acting or you could lose your chance to get money damages.

3.  Failing to take into account that you may be under secret surveillance. You should always just assume that everything you do while out in public could be photographed or video-recorded and subsequently used against you in court. Insurance companies can save themselves from having to pay out a large settlement if they can catch you performing tasks that you claim to be unable to do because of your injuries.

4.  Failing to be discreet when using social media. Being in an accident is stressful, and it's only natural to share the experience with sympathetic friends and family on your favorite social media sites. Be very cautious when posting details about the accident, especially statements that minimize the extent of your injuries or admit to partial fault.

5.  Failing to seek an attorney's guidance before agreeing to a settlement. You could be signing away your chances of fair compensation. Insurance company adjusters are very adept at using various tricky methods to convince you that you are getting a good deal, even resorting to intimidation, lies and threats to convince you to sign on the dotted line within a given deadline or give up your chances at any compensation.

Don't make these five mistakes; contact a personal injury attorney like Knochel Law for help in getting your accident claim approved and get the compensation you deserve.