September 1, 2020

Mistakes You Should Avoid in a Personal Injury Case

Do you think that it is legit to face the consequences of someone else’s wrong attitude or negligence? Do you deserve to pay hefty hospital bills just because you slipped on a slippery super store’s floor? Or did you deserve to get hit by an over-speeding car despite that you were following all traffic rules? Did you rightfully get bitten by an unleashed dog while taking a stroll in the block? And are you worthy of facing aggravated medical conditions because of the medical malpractice of a doctor? Hopefully, your answer is ‘no’! And if I am guessing it right, then you will also agree that you have every ethical and legal right to claim for the compensation of wrongdoings of other people under ‘personal injury law’.

A personal injury law gives the right to file a lawsuit and ask for compensation from the person at fault. You don’t have to undergo financial, emotional, psychological, and physical losses all alone. Pull that person down who shoved you in this aggravated condition. Hire a personal injury attorney prove the wrongdoing of that person and get compensation. But to get the maximum out of your claim, and enhance the possibility of your win, here are given some mistakes you should avoid because they can turn the table against you:

Always Be Active on the Scene of the Accident

Accidents are not something like every day’s routine, and they can leave a dire impact on even strong hearts. You can get frightened and confused due to shock, even if you get just minor bruises. Most people give up on their nerves and senses and can’t come up with a rational decision on the scene. And that’s where things might start going wrong for you. Being passive will not do any good for your personal injury claim later.

Understandably, you are under shock and terrified because you didn’t expect all this to happen. But still, try to gather your senses and be active. Being active doesn’t mean to start fighting with the party at fault. Being proactive means that until corps arrive, you should gather essential information on your own.

Quickly scan the site, note down important points, take a picture of the site and your injuries, and take information from eyewitnesses. This is also essential because the party at fault might try to distort the facts. Like, the store owner might wipe out the floor. So, how will you claim if there isn’t any camera or eyewitness? Your every action counts, and your passive attitude might end you up in missing the opportunity to claim the compensation. Don’t do that!

Avoid Social Media

Social media might be a fancy platform to show others all the occurring in your life, but it can become your life’s biggest mistake in this situation. You might end up posting information on the platform that the party at fault might use against you. Like, you might post a smiling picture right after the accident just to show your friends that you are okay, and they don’t need to worry. That smile can later become a dagger for you.

You have to protect your position in the court by every possible means because the other party will use all means to pull your position down. So, stay away from social media as much as you can and don’t give up any information or sign that the other party can use against you in the court

Don't Handle Things on Your Own

You don’t know anything about the personal injury law, just reading a few postulates can’t give you a real picture of the court. You don’t know all the possible legalities of the case, even if you have tried to secure the facts on the scene. So, don’t think that you can handle the situation on your own. Even if you deserve and you have hospital bills and eyewitnesses to prove you right, you don’t know about the preparations of the other party. You can also not predict what is hiding in the kitty of the other party’s lawyer. So, it is better to hire an experienced attorney and let them handle everything.

A lawyer knows the law better than you, and he can analyze the situation in ways you can’t even think of because he has handled such things before – you haven’t. Don’t goof around with your life by blindly trusting your abilities. It is good to believe in your skills but now is not the right time.

Ask Questions from Lawyers

It is good that you believe in your lawyer, and you are going as per his directions. But it is even better to ask questions from your lawyer to eliminate ambiguities and remove the possibilities of any future misunderstandings. After all, you are going to pay a hefty fee to the lawyer, and this hefty fee also includes charges of the time your attorney is investing on you. So, ask him as many questions as you can because it is a matter of your life, and you should have a clear picture of it. Even if you feel like asking “How much time will this case take?”, ask it.

Discuss your concerns regarding the case or talk about different dimensions of the case. Such mutual discussions can help you both get a better picture of the scenario, along with saving you from any unexpected scenario that you might face if you avoid asking questions.

Allways Choose Your Lawyer Carefully

Just like there is a good doctor and a not-so-good doctor. Similarly, all lawyers are not equal. You just don’t need a degree in law to become a good lawyer. The experience, professional ethics, attitude, and capabilities of a lawyer also matter in defining whether a lawyer is good or not. Consider these things while choosing a doctor.

Most people don’t choose lawyers carefully. They either randomly pick a lawyer or think of going with a lawyer offering a low fee. You might save some money by hiring a lawyer with low rates, but it can also deprive you of the huge compensation amount. So, instead of thinking about saving money in the beginning, think of the bigger picture, and hire a professional and experienced lawyer.

Do Not Ignore Your Doctor's Advice

Ignoring a doctor’s advice in a personal injury case can cost you a lot. First things first, if you are injured, even if you got minor cuts, go to the doctor immediately. Don’t delay your visit because your delay can be projected wrong in the court by the defendant. Moreover, follow whatever your doctor says. Don’t miss appointments. Don’t ignore prescriptions. Don’t overlook therapies. And don’t shorten your recommended hospitalization time period. Follow each and every advice. One of the biggest mistakes that people make is to take things according to themselves. If they believe that they are okay and don’t need to carry on the prescribed medication, they leave them. It can later become an issue for you in court. You have to prove in the court that you were really hurt, concerned for your betterment, and wanted to improve your condition.

It is also better to keep a record of every single doctor’s prescription, including your braces, casts, and anything that can be used as evidence of your injury. Every single action and thing counts, and you should keep their record.

Do Not Sign Anything without Consultation with the Lawyer

Sometimes, the at-fault party’s insurance company approaches you. They might try to convince you to waive your claim. Don’t fall for their trap, and don’t sign on any paper whatsoever. They might also try to trap you and try to trick you into signing on papers saying that you don’t want to get compensation. I mean, come on, this is a freaking dangerous world, and you can expect anything from them. So, never meet someone from the defendant’s side without your lawyer. And also, don’t sign on anything without consulting things with your lawyers. Be careful of things for your good.

Do Not Assume Things Will Be Easier

Some cases are pretty straight, like road-accidents, but still, you never know what might happen in the end. Don’t take things lightly just because you think that things are pretty clear. Sometimes, people start handling things carelessly when they feel that they are standing on the winning end. And due to this, they begin making blunders that aggravate their case. So, if you are also someone who believes that things are going to be easier, get your act together. You never know how the other party will approach things, so you should be ready for any situation because, in the court, there isn’t any thing like easy.

Do Not Settle Claim Quickly

Understandably, you need money if you have paid hefty hospital bills, or you have lost your job due to the accident. And it is also clear that you can feel like settling for the claim on the less compensatory amount. Don’t do that. Never settle for the less compensation just because things are pretty hard on you. Things are difficult, sure, but wait because your patience can bring better results for you. Let your lawyer handle the situation; cooperate with him because you can get a lot more by winning the case.