If you have been hurt in an accident caused by the negligent actions of someone else, you have the right to file a personal injury claim. However, in order to get fair compensation for your injuries, you must play an active role in your case and know what you should and shouldn’t do.
Here are the do’s and don’ts of a successful personal injury claim.
Do Seek Medical Care
Whether you were in a vehicle collision or slip and fall accident, you should seek emergency medical care right away. Not all injuries have obvious symptoms at first, but it is still critical to get looked at by a doctor. He or she will conduct a physical exam and perform tests to properly diagnose your injuries and recommend the appropriate treatment. If you delay medical care for too long, you could harm your health and your injury case.
Don’t Give Statements to the Insurance Company
After an accident, the at-fault party’s insurance company may call you and ask you to provide a statement about the accident. Don’t do this. If you accidentally say the wrong thing, the insurance company could use this against you later on. Tell them that you can’t give a statement without your lawyer present.
Do Be Careful About What You Post on Social Media
If you’re in the middle of a personal injury case, the other side may look through your social media pages to find information to use against you. That’s why you have to be extra cautious about what you post from now on. For example, if you’re claiming that you have a neck injury and post a photo of yourself hiking, the insurance company may argue that you’re exaggerating your injuries.
Don’t Keep Information from Your Lawyer
It’s important to be completely honest with your personal injury lawyer from the beginning. If your lawyer doesn’t know the whole truth, he or she won’t be able to help you. Don’t leave any details out about your case. For instance, if you have a pre-existing injury from an accident in the past, you should let your lawyer know about it.
Do Gather Evidence
The more evidence you have, the stronger your personal injury case will be. As such, you will want to start collecting evidence as soon as possible. For example, if you were in a car accident, you’ll want to obtain a copy of the police report and take photos of the accident scene.
Don’t Admit Fault
Even if you think that you are partially at-fault for the accident, you should not accept blame. For instance, if you were in a car accident, don’t say “I’m sorry” to the other driver. Admitting fault could hurt your right to compensation.
If you have suffered injuries in an accident, you should schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer, like one from Darrell Castle & Associates, to discuss your case in detail.