After filing a personal injury claim, you must avoid making certain mistakes. It’s a long process — one that is best navigated with the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer in your corner.Â
But while the right lawyer can make a big difference and tip the balances of justice in your favor, they may not be able to dig you out of a hole if you self-sabotage. It’s best to follow your lawyer’s lead and get their input before you do something that could cause issues. For instance, exaggerating your injury is a serious offense that could subject you to fraud charges.
Unfortunately, that’s not the only mistake people sometimes make when pursuing personal injury claims. Continue reading to see seven other mistakes to avoid at all costs.
- Not Seeking Medical Treatment
A big no-no is failing to seek medical treatment after getting injured. See a doctor right away to get checked out. If you fail to do so, your lawyer’s job will be monumentally harder. An insurance company could argue you would have sought medical assistance if you were seriously hurt. It’ll be hard for any lawyer to overcome that sort of slip-up.
- Ignoring Medical Advice
Another mistake to steer clear of is ignoring medical advice. Seeing a doctor is a good idea. But don’t make the mistake of letting the doctor’s recommendations go in one ear and out the other. You must follow the prescribed treatment plan.
On the one hand, you want to get better and move on with your life. On the other hand, you want to avoid a situation where the insurer says your refusal to take the treatment recommended is evidence you’re not as injured as you say.
- Missing Medical Appointments
Related to the second point, you must go to all medical appointments. Skipping them can ruin your credibility and make it more difficult for your personal injury lawyer to establish you have suffered serious injuries. If you miss any appointments, you had better have a good reason.
- Posting on Social Media
Posting information about your personal injury case on social media is another no-no. If in doubt, run it by your lawyer. It’s all but a sure thing that your lawyer will recommend you refrain from sharing anything that hurts your case.
If you post information that contradicts anything in your personal injury claim, your goose might be cooked. You can bet the insurer will readily use any self-incriminating evidence against you.
- Not Documenting Your Injuries
You’re making a serious mistake if you don’t document your injuries. Trying to commit everything to memory is unwise. Keep track of medical bills, pictures of injuries, medical records, and prescriptions to help your lawyer build a solid case.
- Ignoring Pain and Suffering Documentation
Emotional distress should be documented. Again, don’t try to commit everything to memory. Make notes about pain and suffering and mental health challenges. Compensation from a personal injury claim can include resources for pain and suffering. But you need evidence to back up any claims.
- Failing to Track Expenses and Losses
Another mistake you must avoid is failing to track expenses and losses. Stay on top of costs related to your injury, ongoing medical care, or losses due to taking time off work. It’ll be easier to get sufficient compensation when you document everything.
Avoid these seven mistakes like the plague to increase your chances of a fair outcome. Hiring a good personal injury lawyer is a wise decision. But you don’t want to make things more difficult than necessary by making any of these common mistakes.