5 Things NOT To Do When Filing A Personal Injury Lawsuit
Personal injury claims, in essence, are pretty common, especially in the USA.
As per a report, the said country encounters around 300,000-500,000 cases on a yearly basis. And about 52 percent of them are caused by car accidents. If someone gets injured during the process, they can always file a case against the person who caused the issue.
However, you cannot simply go to that person and ask to get reimbursed. Instead, you’ll have to ask for their financial support through a personal injury claim.
But there’s a hitch.
Setting up a personal injury lawsuit is a complex and time-consuming process. And, if you make even a small mistake, your fiscal claim will go down the drain.
Due to this reason, before you start working on your case, you should hire a personal injury lawyer in Boulder, MI, promptly. They can help you understand the loopholes, curate a perfect story, and find a way to get the amount of money you want.
Nonetheless, even if you hire an attorney, you cannot make any mistakes for the tasks you’re responsible for. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Mistakes To Avoid While Filing A Personal Injury Claim
As mentioned, taking care of a personal injury lawsuit can be quite time-consuming. Hence, if you make any of the following mistakes, the period will be elongated to some extent.
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Mistake – 1: Lying To Your Lawyer.
When you’re tackling a personal injury claim, no one else but your lawyer will be your best friend. Hence, it’s imperative that you don’t hide anything from them. Talk to them about the case from the very first day and tell them everything you know.
Unless you’re being honest with them, they cannot create the case correctly for you. Besides, they’ll get embarrassed in court if they don’t know something the defendant knows.
Mistake – 2: Not Reporting The Accident.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, make sure to let the police authority know about it as soon as possible. Otherwise, the insurance organization can allege that the accident did not occur at all – or didn’t happen the way you said.
Also, if you don’t file a report, the police will be missing out on the essential facts regarding the accident. This, in turn, can increase the risk of claiming your case to be a hoax or false.
Mistake – 3: Confessing Their Guilt Or Fault.
Following an incident, many people tend to get too nervous and end up confessing their fault or guilt. But, this can lead the authorities to consider you as a guilty party right away and prompt them to take you to jail.
Honestly, the aftermath of an accident can be pretty stressful, confusing, and overwhelming, we understand. However, it’s still crucial to remember not to confess anything at all. Even if you’re not guilty, there’s no need to say that as well. Let your lawyer handle everything.
Mistake – 4: Waiting For Too Long.
Like any other lawsuit, a personal injury claim also comes with a time limit. Depending on the state you’re in, it can sway between the duration of twelve months to thirty-six months. You must make your claim before the deadline ends.
If you’ve suffered an injury and want to file a claim against it, make sure to hire an attorney quickly. They can help you stay updated about your state law and ensure that you’re not missing out on any deadlines at all.
Mistake – 5: Skipping Healthcare Entirely.
The secretion of adrenaline from your body can mask almost any pain initially. Due to this reason, it is crucial for anyone who’s suffered an injury to go to the doctor and get themselves treated properly. And, yes, you must do this even if you’re feeling just fine.
Failing to get yourself medically checked can work as a red flag when you’re talking with your insurance company. It may show that –
● You weren’t injured too badly at all.
● You didn’t even sustain a little bit of injury due to the accident.
● You didn’t mitigate the damage by going to a healthcare center and, thus, did not have to pay anything at all.
If they can prove any of the aforesaid, it’ll be impossible for you to get enough compensation from your insurance company. Hence, don’t ever skip healthcare, no matter the extent of the sustained injury.
How To Prepare For A Personal Injury Claim?
As of before, we’ve told you what you shouldn’t do while filing a personal injury claim. But, now, we’ll focus on the positive and tell you what you must do while preparing.
● You have to speak to your lawyer as quickly as possible. Try to get it done after going through the regular medical checkup. If you’ve sustained a massive injury, make sure to tell your family members to work on it.
● Collect each and every piece of evidence efficiently. Take the help of your lawyer if you want. While you’re at it, be sure to gather all the critical information, including – photos of the injuries and the scene, information about the witnesses, your medical records, the information of the defendant, etc.
● Try not to talk about your case or the injuries you’ve sustained on social media. After all, you’ll never know how someone can twist your story into something that never happened and make it believable.
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The Bottom Line
If you have sustained an injury for some reason, be sure to file a personal injury claim right away. After all, they’ll have to pay for the mistake they’ve made.
In any case, while you’re at it, we’ll ask you to be as careful as possible and not utter a single word to anyone. At least not until your attorney has arrived at the scene.
Also, be careful while you’re investigating the scene. It’s better if someone doesn’t see you at the spot where you had suffered or prompted the accident. Asking for some assistance from your lawyer could be beneficial in this regard.
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