Settling a personal injury claim isn’t always straightforward. Between insurance companies looking to minimize payouts and legal complexities that can impact your case, even a small mistake could cost you the compensation you deserve. 

Here are 6 mistakes to avoid making during your personal injury case:

1. Waiting too long to seek treatment

You must seek medical treatment as soon as possible after you’ve been involved in an accident, whether you have been obviously injured, if you feel fine, or anywhere in between. Often, injuries sustained during a car accident are not recognized or noticeable until days or weeks after the accident.

The medical records from your treatment will also provide a foundation for your personal injury case— documenting the nature and extent of your injuries, the treatments you’ve received that need compensating, and any long-term effects you might experience. 

The at-fault party’s insurance company will be looking for gaps between when you were injured and when you were treated to avoid paying your claim, so seek treatment immediately, even for seemingly minor injuries.

2. Not completing your recommended treatment plan

Personal injury claims are settled after you are done with treatment. Insurance companies do not like speculative or future treatment and will usually only pay for the treatment you have already received. If you do not complete the treatment recommended by your doctor, you will have difficulty getting the insurance company to pay your personal injury claim.

3. Sharing on social media

Don’t post anything that could compromise your claim on social media while your case is still open. This includes performing rigorous exercises or activities while claiming you can’t work due to your injuries.

4. Settling with the insurance company before your treatment is complete

If you let the at-fault party’s insurance company talk you into settling too early and signing a release when your future treatment and recovery are still uncertain, you likely won’t get the maximum amount you could recover. Your claim is now over, and there is nothing an attorney can do about it.

5. Letting the insurance company take a recorded statement without legal counsel involved

You should always consult with an attorney before giving a recorded statement to the at-fault party’s insurance company. Your attorney will be able to advise you on how to best tell your side of the story to the insurance company and make sure that you do not accidentally say something that might damage your claim.

6. Not seeking the help of an experienced personal injury attorney

Always hire an experienced personal injury attorney. You will almost always pocket more from your claim with the help of an attorney than without. Don’t worry about what hiring an attorney costs because they get paid the more they help you claim.

Remember: Your personal injury attorneys are investing our time and energy in you and your case, so we need you to be just as invested in your case and medical treatment. Be sure to follow your physician’s treatment plan and our recommendations as closely as possible so that you can recover what you are entitled to. 

SeiferFlatow Can Guide You

After an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation. But even the smallest mistake can cost you, so it’s important to have an experienced personal injury attorney on your case to guide you. 

The team at SeiferFlatow can guide you through the personal injury claims process to help you get the compensation you’re owed. Contact us today to speak to an attorney if you’ve been injured in an accident due to the negligence or actions of others. Don’t face it alone.

If you are in South Carolina and in need of a personal injury attorney to review your case, contact us here.