An injury can truly wreak havoc on your life, impacting you physically, emotionally, and financially. The moments just after a serious injury are usually filled with confusion and shock. People don’t often expect to be involved in an accident, so when they are, they rarely know how to deal with the situation. For this reason, it’s fairly common for victims of an injury to risk their case by doing the wrong thing. With that in mind, here are six mistakes you must avoid after a serious injury.
Delaying Seeing A Doctor
While your adrenaline levels are high, you may not feel the symptoms of your injury. This means you might not realize you need a doctor until much later. Sometimes, pain doesn’t appear until days or weeks after an accident, by which time you might have caused further damage. Make your health a priority and strengthen your claim by heading to the hospital right after being hurt.
Failing To Collect Evidence
Seeing a doctor about your injuries means that a record of them will be taken for you. As valuable as this is, you must also collect evidence from the scene of the accident. Whether you were involved in a crash or a slip and fall, photographs will help the courts determine who was at fault. If anyone witnessed the accident, having their contact details can also prove to be helpful.
Handling Your Own Claim
Despite how the evidence presents itself, personal injury cases aren’t often clear cut. This is why personal injury lawyers are crucial. Without an attorney to present your evidence and fight your corner, you might not get the compensation you deserve. Even those with law experience often struggle to present themselves in court, so it’s best that you have an expert by your side. If you live in Nashville, you can try this personal injury lawyer. If you aren’t in that area, make sure to do your research for trustworthy personal injury lawyers around you.
Suggesting You’re To Blame
Accidents inconvenience many people other than just yourself. Because of this, most people’s natural inclination is to apologize, whether they were at fault or not. However, doing so is risky, both for you and your claim. If you were to say you’re sorry, it could be taken as an admission of guilt. This means your claim would be dismissed and you might get into trouble instead.
Taking The First Offer
The first offer made by the defendant is unlikely to be the full settlement you’re due. As tempting as it might be to accept it, you must speak to your attorney first. They can then advise you whether you should take the offer or ask for more. A personal injury claim can be a long process, but after being hurt through no fault of your own, you owe it to yourself to get what you deserve.
Posting About The Case
After a traumatic incident, speaking about your feelings can definitely help. However, you must only do so with those you can trust. Posting about the case on social media will put it at risk. After all, anything that you say can be used against you, even when your posts are private. If an insurance company or the defendant wishes to speak to you, give them your lawyer’s number.
With the advice above, you’re much more likely to win your personal injury case.