In the aftermath of a personal injury, it is understandable if you feel confused and disoriented. It can be difficult to know what to do next because the incident that causes a personal injury is always unpredictable and unexpected. There are certain steps that need to be taken and mistakes to be avoided if you want the best chance of receiving the compensation that you need.
The first step to avoiding any serious mistakes is to contact a personal injury attorney to help you. With that being said, here are some common mistakes that many personal injury clients make that you should avoid.
1. Not Getting Proper Medical Attention
The main reason to get proper medical attention after suffering a personal injury is to ensure your health and safety. There are many cases where a person may feel okay after being injured, only to realize that they were actually seriously hurt. Internal bleeding or the symptoms of whiplash are just two delayed injuries that can have a negative impact on your health.
That is why it is important to get a thorough check-up from a medical professional after a personal injury. Another reason to do so is that you want all of your injuries to be on the record so that you can get the compensation that you need to take care of them. That way you can avoid a scenario where the compensation that you receive is not enough to take care of any injuries that don’t immediately show up after the accident.
2. Not Hiring An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
There is an old adage that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. That goes double if the person representing themselves is not a lawyer to begin with. Hiring a personal injury attorney is vital if you want the best chance of getting the compensation needed to take care of any injury-related expenses.
A personal injury attorney will know all the steps you need to take, they can help you write and file all of the necessary paperwork, they can negotiate a settlement on your behalf, and they can represent you if the case ends up going to trial. They are an invaluable asset to anyone who has experienced a personal injury.
3. Not Filing The Personal Injury Claim On Time
One thing a personal injury attorney can help you with is filing a claim before it is too late. Every state has a Statute of Limitations to personal injury cases and if a case is not filed within that time limit, then the court will refuse to hear it. If you hire a personal injury attorney soon after the accident that led to the injury, then they will tell you about the Statute of Limitations in your state and make sure that you file your personal injury claim on time.
4. Accepting The First Settlement Offer
The defendant and their insurance company will typically offer the lowest possible amount the first time around. This amount will likely be far less than what you deserve, which is why you should consult your attorney before accepting it. This is another reason why you need to hire an experienced personal injury attorney; they will know how to negotiate to make sure that you do not get lowballed by the defendant or their insurance company.
5. Posting About The Accident On Social Media
The party that caused the accident will likely have an attorney too, and that attorney will be trying to refute or downplay your injury claims. One method that they will use is to search your social media accounts for anything that you posted after the accident. Even something that seems harmless or innocent can be spun by the lawyer to make it seem like your injuries are not as serious as you claim, or even that you are not injured at all. That is why you should avoid posting anything accident-related on social media—or even avoid posting altogether—until the case gets resolved. You do not want to give the opposing lawyer any ammunition that may negatively affect your case.
Hire An Attorney In Order To Avoid These Mistakes
One thing many of these mistakes have in common is that a personal injury attorney can help you to avoid them. That is why you need to retain the services of an experienced lawyer if you want the best chance of receiving compensation for your injuries and the expenses related to them. An attorney will be your guide through the entire personal injury claim process and they will make sure that you avoid all of the pitfalls that can have a negative effect on your personal injury case.
