If you have been injured by the negligence or harmful actions of another person, North Carolina law ensures your protection and just compensation. You may be entitled to receive monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost wage income, and pain and suffering, in addition to other potential awards and claims.

Settling a personal injury claim isn’t always straightforward, and unless you play by the rules, you may not receive the maximum compensation you deserve. Here are 7 mistakes you must 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 — if 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 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. Seeking treatment from multiple providers at the same time

In the eyes of insurance adjusters, not all medical treatment is equal when it comes to personal injury claims. The insurance industry harbors strong prejudices against anything other than what they consider “mainstream” treatment by physicians, hospitals, and medical clinics. This includes chiropractors, acupuncturists, physical therapists, and other forms of “alternative” medicine. Treatments by these types of providers will likely not be fully covered or covered at all by the insurance company.

4. Sharing on social media

Don’t post anything that would 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.

5. 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 is still uncertain, you are likely not getting the maximum amount you could recover. Your claim is now over and there is nothing an attorney can do about it.

6. 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.

7. 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.

As your personal injury attorneys, we 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. Contact us today if you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence or actions of others.

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