5 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid in Your Personal Injury Claim

An accident is a devastating event. It can immediately change the life of the victim and their family forever. An accident can be so heartbreaking because it is unexpected. Despite being responsible and planning carefully for the future, an injury can occur at any time. The victim may be unable to work and provide for their family. The physical pain that comes along with injuries can be excruciating. The emotional anguish from the accident itself, as well as from the recovery process, can put a strain on a victim’s already tough situation.

Accident Victims Have Rights

Fortunately, as an accident victim, you have rights. The victim of an accident may deserve monetary compensation. The compensation they receive can cover bills and represent a wide range of losses that the victim sustains.

However, victims can make mistakes in the compensation process. It’s up to each victim to go about pursuing the compensation that they deserve in the right way. When errors occur, these mistakes can stand in the way of a victim receiving justice. A personal injury attorney can assist the victim in avoiding common mistakes. When a victim knows what the common errors are, they can take steps to prevent them and claim fair compensation.

Here are five common mistakes that you should avoid in your personal injury claim:

1. Not Seeing the Doctor Right Away

Going to the doctor is an essential first step in pursuing any personal injury claim. Getting medical care serves a few important purposes. First, it helps the victim begin the recovery process. Also, it enables you to address injuries so that they don’t become worse. Equally important is the fact that going to the doctor establishes a timeline that connects the accident to your injuries. 

With timely medical care, there is no doubt that the injuries are the result of the accident. In addition, getting medical attention means that the other side can’t make the argument that the victim isn’t serious about addressing their injuries and recovering. Failing to see a doctor and skipping follow-up medical care is a critical mistake in any personal injury claim.

2. Getting Rid of Important Information

A personal injury claim is an exercise in documentation. Gathering records and evidence is critical to winning the claim and getting a fair amount. Many injury victims make the mistake of assuming they will automatically receive a fair amount of compensation and simply settle with insurance companies. While the victim is deserving of compensation, it’s also up to them to take steps to document their claim and pursue it.

Deleting photographs, throwing away doctor’s records, and even failing to take notes of progress in the case are all mistakes in a personal injury claim. The victim should keep records of everything until the claim is fully resolved. 

3. Not Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

A lot of people think that the best path to financial compensation is by managing the case on their own. They might believe that legal help isn’t worth the investment. However, that typically isn’t the case. 

An attorney helps the client maximize their compensation. They know what affirmative steps to take for the victim to receive the most relief. In addition, they are aware of how to avoid the pitfalls that can leave a victim empty-handed. They can also speed up the legal process and manage some of the strain of the legal system. Ultimately, a personal injury attorney can help the victim take the right steps and avoid common mistakes that stand in the way of the victim getting the most compensation possible.

When dealing with personal injury cases, it’s wise to go for no win, no fee solicitors.

Just what are no win no fee solicitors exactly?

A No Win No Fee Agreement means that if you lose your personal injury claim, then you won’t have to pay for anything to your personal injury attorney. You’ll only be paying them if you win the case.

4. Looking Too Narrowly at Fault for the Accident

Fault is a complex issue when it comes to personal injury accidents. Many victims believe that, if the other person didn’t hurt them on purpose, it’s just an accident. They assume that there is no legal liability. However, that isn’t the case. 

Legal liability can be based on simple negligence. In addition, even if the victim plays some role in the accident, they may still have a legal right to some financial relief. Negligence is a complex issue. It’s a mistake to assume that fault is obvious or that the victim does not qualify for any payment. A victim is always wise to speak to personal injury attorneys to examine the complex issue of fault.

5. Focusing Solely on Physical Damages

The foundation of any personal injury claim is physical damages. These damages are based on your injuries. You have the right to compensation for expenses related to your injuries. For example, your emergency room bills should be covered by your claim. Also, the victim qualifies for reimbursement for long-term medical care needs.

However, if you focus only on physical damages, you’re likely to undervalue your compensation. A victim knows that the damages of a personal injury accident go so far beyond physical injuries. You have mental injuries and emotional anguish. These things are a valid part of any personal injury claim. In fact, sometimes these things are worth more than the cost of physical injuries.

How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You With Your Personal Injury Claim

If you’re hurt in an accident, a personal injury lawyer can help you get fair compensation for your car accident injuries. Getting to the bottom of all of the types of losses is critical to any personal injury victim. It’s vital to understand all of the categories of damages that apply. Then, the victim must determine what losses they have within that category. Finally, they need to document what their losses are in that category. 

Experienced personal injury attorneys can assist the victim in identifying and quantifying their losses. They know what steps to take and how to do those things efficiently. Ultimately, an attorney is an experienced advocate that can make the most of a personal injury claim and avoid mistakes that prevent the victim from getting less than they deserve.

Annika Bansal
 

Annika "The Chick Geek" is the founder of AnnikaBansal.com. Small Business Sense shares small business ideas, tips and resources for independent Entrepreneurs and Small Business owners.