If you’ve been involved in an accident that caused you significant injury at the hands of another party, you may be considering a personal injury lawsuit. Before you plan to sue the other party and their insurance company, though, it’s important to understand the process and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Here are the biggest mistakes most people make when filing a lawsuit for a personal injury, and why you need a personal injury attorney to help protect your interests.
Mistake #1: Not Calling the Police and Getting a Copy of the Report
Even if the accident seems minor, you still want to call the police and make a report. First, make sure people aren’t injured. Then, call the police and have them come to the scene. After you give them all the details and their report is complete, you need to get a copy of it. Not having a copy of the report means you don’t have the details you need to pursue a case more easily.
Mistake #2: Not Visiting the Doctor and Following Their Orders
You might not have any obvious injuries after your accident, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any damage to your physical or mental health. As soon as you can, go to the doctor and get a thorough examination. If your doctor prescribes any kind of medication, physical therapy, or suggested tests, make sure you follow through with those and keep good records to protect your interests.
Mistake #3: Letting the Other Party’s Insurance Company Record Your Statement
When you contact the other party’s insurance company to make a personal injury claim, the representative may ask to record your statement. You have the right to say no to that, because recorded statements can work against you in some cases. If you do let them record you, make sure you’re fully honest about anything they ask, including saying you don’t know instead of guessing.
Mistake #4: Signing a Release Without Talking to an Attorney
If you sign a release you can settle your personal injury case and get paid. But that also means you won’t be able to bring a lawsuit for additional compensation later. Since it often takes time to know the full extent and cost of your injuries from an accident, it’s important to make sure you can receive fair and just compensation.
Mistake #5: Posting Information About Your Case on Social Media
It can be very tempting to complain about an insurance adjuster, or post great pictures from your golfing vacation. Even if you have your profile set to private, though, it’s not a good idea. Instead, keep anything about your case off social media, and don’t post anything that the insurance company could use against you, to say you aren’t injured.
Mistake #6: Trying to Handle Everything on Your Own
The biggest mistake with a personal injury lawsuit is trying to do everything by yourself. Instead, you need the help of a trusted, quality personal injury attorney.
Contact us at Coulter Harsh Law today for the support and information you need.
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