If you were injured in an accident that was not of your own doing, you may be looking to pursue a personal injury case to claim compensation for your medical bills, time spent away from work, and damage to property (if it was a factor). To do so successfully will mean knowing what mistakes to avoid that may compromise your claim. Unfortunately, several seemingly innocuous things can lead to a weaker case, which is why hiring an injury lawyer is so important. Below are a few of the most common mistakes made by people with personal injury cases.
- Making a Recorded Statement
- Not Getting Medical Treatment
- Not Documenting the Scene
Giving any recorded statement to an insurance company before making a settlement offer is one of the fastest ways to kill your personal injury claim. Insurance adjusters can take anything you say out of context, using your statement to give their side ammunition to lower your settlement and claims for damages.
Put it this way, if you want to file a settlement claim for the injuries you incurred from an accident, but never bothered to seek treatment, do you think an insurance adjuster will take you seriously? Delaying treatment won’t just lower your compensation, it could also put your health at serious risk, as some injuries don’t become immediately apparent.
Before you talk to an insurance company, be sure you have as much documentation of the accident as you can. Take photos of the scene and your injuries, keep medical records, keep police reports (if any), and get a statement from your lawyer to prove you had to be away from work to seek treatment and recovery. For more dos and don’ts on filing personal injury claims, schedule a FREE no-obligation consultation with Barrus Injury Lawyers. Call us today at (210) 593-8709.
