Filing a Personal Injury Claim? Avoid These 4 Common Mistakes
Personal injury claims are more common than you think. From car accidents to workplace injuries, negligent parties can leave you struggling with medical bills and other financial losses. When this happens, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to hold them accountable for your injuries.
Personal injury cases involve many moving parts and can quickly become complex legal matters. As such, even small mistakes can have major implications. If you’re thinking about filing a personal injury claim, avoid making fundamental mistakes that can jeopardize your chance of winning a settlement.
1. Pursuing a Claim Without a Lawyer
Although some personal injuries can be resolved without an attorney, the outcomes are often subpar. Attorneys work hard to protect clients from predatory insurance companies, who usually try to settle for low amounts.
Hiring an attorney is the best way to protect your rights. An attorney by your side will understand the value of your claim and gather the necessary information to seek the compensation you deserve.
2. Not Documenting Evidence
Substantial evidence is critical to a successful personal injury claim.
Some simple ways you can document evidence early on to strengthen your claim include:
- Calling law enforcement after a crash
- Taking photos of your accident
- Seeking medical attention right away
- Getting contact information from witnesses
Sadly, many personal injury victims fail to act fast, which can jeopardize their claims.
3. Settling Too Quickly
Personal injury cases may take a long time to resolve, and it can be tempting to accept a cash offer to resolve the issue sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, most offers to settle are well below the actual value of a claim, and accepting can result in significant financial losses. For this reason, it’s essential to follow the directives of your attorney. Patience pays off.
4. Discussing the Claim with Others
It’s normal to want to share details about your claim with friends and loved ones, but this can sometimes lead to problems down the road.
In many cases, sensitive information can become compromised or misrepresented. This is especially true whenever information becomes shared on social media. Opposing parties can use any information about the injury against you, and you risk sabotaging your claim.
Avoid talking to third parties, lawyers, and even friends about your accident. When in doubt, refer them to your attorney.
Get Help for Vancouver, WA, Personal Injury Claims
The Harlan Law Firm represents personal injury claims throughout Vancouver and Portland. Our seasoned attorneys are dedicated to fighting for your rights.
Contact us today for a free case review.