Mistakes That Devalue Injury Claims
When an injury is caused by another person’s careless behavior, you have the right to seek damages to cover your medical costs and other expenses. But there are mistakes that may prevent you from collecting the full amount you deserve.
As soon as you realize you’ve been harmed, it’s crucial to take the right steps to protect your claim. Otherwise, you could be facing years of pain without having the resources you need to get the right treatment.
To help your personal injury attorney build a strong case, you’ll want to seek out medical attention right away, go to all your medical appointments, and contact your Dallas personal injury attorney before speaking with the insurance adjuster.
See Your Doctor Right Away
Sometimes injuries turn out to be a lot worse than they seem. For example, you may have been sitting in your car at a red light when you were struck by another vehicle from behind. Even if the other vehicle wasn’t traveling very fast, you could still suffer from whiplash, which is a serious soft-tissue injury that may cause dizziness, sleep deprivation, and severe pain.
Maybe you’re feeling some pain in your neck, back, or shoulders, but you think it will probably go away. Unfortunately, whiplash can get a lot worse over time. But if you don’t see your doctor right after the accident, it will be difficult to establish a conclusive relationship between the accident and your injuries.
Even if your doctor believes your injuries were caused by the accident, they may be unwilling to testify on your behalf due to delayed treatment. And the defendant’s attorneys will argue that your injuries must not be that severe if you waited so long to get treatment.
See your doctor as soon as possible if you feel pain or discomfort after experiencing any of the following types of incidents:
Follow All Your Doctor’s Treatment Recommendations
To win your personal injury claim, your attorney will need to document your injuries. That’s why you’ll want to keep receipts for all your treatment and medical appointments.
Once your doctor has provided a diagnosis, you’ll want to be diligent about following his treatment recommendations.
If you don’t attend all your follow-up appointments, the defendant’s attorney will use it as evidence that your injuries really aren’t that bad. Of course, an emergency may cause you to miss an appointment. But if this happens, document the reason and schedule another appointment right away.
Even when your symptoms are improving, it’s crucial to attend all your physical therapy sessions. Sometimes an ailment will suddenly get worse. But if you don’t go to every appointment, then it’s difficult for your attorney to say that you’re making a good-faith effort to get better.
The Insurance Agent Is Not Your Friend
The insurance agent’s job is to save their company money any way they can, and they’re not above using deceptive practices. Nothing you say to an insurance agent can help you, and your words could be used against you.
If an insurance adjuster gets in touch with you, provide them with your name, address, and contact information, and tell them your attorney will get back to them.
These tips will help you secure the best claim:
- Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can.
- Don’t accept the first offer you get.
- Don’t try to hide your medical history.
- Don’t sign any statements from an insurance agent.
- Don’t talk to an insurance agent without your attorney present.
- Don’t reveal details about your case to friends or on social media.
- Use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene.
- Report all workplace injuries to your supervisor right away.
- Request a copy of the police report.
How Your Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Your attorney will investigate the accident and file a claim against anyone whose negligent actions contributed to your injuries. A personal injury claim includes the following types of damages:
- Medical bills
- Ambulance rides
- Emergency room care
- Doctor’s office visits
- Time missed from work
- Physical therapy
- Medical devices
- Pain and suffering
- Wheelchair ramps
- Reduced earning potential
You Won’t Pay Anything Unless We Win You a Settlement
The person who hurt you should have to pay for it. At The Lenahan Law Firm, we’ve won millions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
Our firm has a perfect 10.0 rating from Avvo, and Super Lawyers has recognized us for providing outstanding service.
Call (214) 295-1008 to schedule a FREE case evaluation today.
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