Having to deal with an injury is never easy, especially when you feel the negligence of another party caused it. What’s even worse is when said party is doing everything in their power to sabotage your claim. Insurance companies do everything in their power to cheat you out of your compensation, and unless you know how to deal with them, you might end up making costly mistakes. In other cases, people make mistakes of their own without realizing it. Here are some of the mistakes that can end up diminishing your claim or having it thrown out.
1 Posting on Social Media
A lot of people still don’t realize that anything they post online can be used against them. And we mean anything. If you’re suing for emotional distress, for instance, your claim could be challenged if you look too happy in your pictures. You might also have issues if you’re performing activities that are incongruent with your claimed injuries. So, it’s always better to keep posting to a minimum if you can’t get off social media completely. Ramp up your privacy settings and don’t accept requests from new friends.
2 Delaying or Ignoring Treatment
This is one of the biggest mistakes that you could ever make with a personal injury claim. Not going for treatment right away or missing/ignoring appointments is a sure-fire way to have your case questioned. If you don’t care about your health, why would the judge or jury? You have to make sure that you respect every appointment and make sure that all treatments are followed to the letter.
3 Signing Anything
You never want to sign a piece of documentation from an insurance company before you have a lawyer present. Before hiring a lawyer, you should make sure that they’re familiar with your local jurisdiction. If you live in Houston, for instance, work with a houston personal injury lawyer who understands the laws and statutes in your area. Insurance companies might try to have you sign something that seems innocent at first glance but could clear them from further action if you do. They’re in their right to do so, and it’s your responsibility to have all documents checked. So, make sure that you never sign anything, no matter how benign it might seem like.
4 Not Keeping Track of Everything
A good lawyer will be able to help you evaluate damages, but you have to make things easier for them to make sure that nothing slips through the cracks. Make sure that you document everything, from prescriptions, medical invoices, lost wages, or any correspondence you may have had with medical professionals. Another thing you could do is keep a diary documenting your levels of pain and their effect on your life. Things like that could help make a stronger case.
Personal injuries are never easy, but you don’t have to make things worse for yourself. Make sure that you refrain from committing any of these mistakes, and speak with a professional if you have any doubts.
