What you do after you have been injured in an accident matters. Any mistakes that you make in the days and weeks afterwards can undermine your legal case, and they can cost you money. Once you make an error, it is nearly impossible to undo it. The best way to avoid any mistakes that can compromise your lawsuit is to hire an experienced Florida accident lawyer as soon as possible for accident claim help.
Here are 5 personal injury mistakes that YOU SHOULD AVOID!
1) Admitting Fault in Any Way
Any words that you speak at any point after the accident can be used against you when it comes time to file a claim or lawsuit. For example, if you apologized after the accident, or you admitted some degree of fault after the accident, you can expect those words to appear again in the legal process. Once you have said something, it is very difficult to undo the damage. The insurance company will use it to undercut your case at every step of the way.
To avoid admitting fault, you should never speak to the other driver’s insurance company after the accident. You are under no obligation whatsoever to have a conversation with the adjuster. Doing so would work against your own interests, since there is no upside at all to having this conversation. If you are contacted by the insurance adjuster, you should politely decline to speak with them.
2) Settling Your Case for Too Little
There are numerous elements to your personal injury damages. In addition to the economic losses that you have suffered, you are also legally entitled to be paid for non-economic damages, such as emotional distress and pain and suffering. You have the legal right to be paid for all the losses that you have suffered when you have been injured by someone else’s negligence.
The insurance company will never offer you the full amount of money that you deserve right off the bat. They are going to make you work for this money through difficult negotiation of your claim.
The biggest mistake that you can make in the personal injury claims process is accepting a settlement offer that does not fully and fairly pay you for your injuries. You can and should continue negotiating to get as much money as you can. If the insurance company still will not offer you enough money, you should file a lawsuit.
3) Trying to Handle Your Personal Injury Case on Your Own
You may know and understand that your personal injury attorney works for you on a contingency basis, and they receive a percentage of the money that you receive. Some people may not want to give part of their settlement or award to an attorney, desiring to keep everything for themselves. In reality, while you may get to keep the entirety of your money when you represent yourself, there will likely be less of it, if you receive anything at all.
The average person knows little about how to deal with an insurance company. It shows in the fact that self-represented claimants almost always end up with less money in their pocket than someone who has hired and paid a personal injury attorney.
They may not know the full value of their own claim, nor will they have the means to force the insurance company to pay up through the threat of a lawsuit. Not only that, but they will have had the stress of dealing with the insurance company along the way. It is more than worth it to hire a personal injury attorney, especially since you do not have to pay unless you win your case.
4) Trusting the Insurance Company to Do the Right Thing
The insurance company has an interest in your case that is the direct opposite of yours. They are the ones who have to pay you. They either want to avoid that outcome altogether, or they want to pay you as little as possible.
Accordingly, you must be very skeptical of anything that the insurance company does in your case, given their motive. If they want to talk to you about your case, you may not even know that you do not have to talk to them if you do not have help from an experienced personal injury attorney. Anything that you say to the adjuster can be used against you by the insurance company.
5) Waiting Too Long to Get Medical Treatment
There are many reasons why you want to see a doctor after an accident and do what they tell you. The most important reason is your long-term health, as prompt medical care can increase the chances that you make a recovery to the fullest extent possible. Some health conditions can grow worse over time if they are left untreated, taking away any chance that you may have of a full recovery.
The other reason why it is a mistake to delay medical treatment is that it can harm your legal case. The insurance company is keeping a close eye on what you do for yourself with regard to your medical care. They are well aware of your duty to mitigate your own damages, which you meet by seeing a doctor and following their treatment recommendations. If you do not fulfill that duty, the insurance company may offer you less money in a settlement. They will claim that some of your damages were caused by your failure to seek prompt medical help.
Contact a Florida Attorney for Legal Advice After Your Injury
If you have been injured in an accident, speak to a Florida personal injury lawyer at Consumer Law Attorneys. We can evaluate your case and let you know if you have a potential claim or lawsuit against the responsible party. You can schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer by messaging us online or by calling us today at (877) 241-2200. You never owe us anything unless you win your personal injury case.
