When you are victimized due to another party’s negligence, there can be repercussions beyond simple physical injury (although those can also be devastating). Your psychological and financial wellbeing may also be at stake. As you do your best to pick up the pieces and put them back together again after such an injury, you may feel confused and disoriented- and it’s the worst time to be in such a mind state, as simple missteps can end up costing you big in terms of money and time when it comes to your personal injury case. To avoid complicating your claim down the road and to streamline the recovery process, it’s important to understand what not to do in the wake of a personal injury.
What You Shouldn’t Do After A Personal Injury
- Fail to seek immediate medical attention: If you’re able, you should always seek immediate medical attention following a personal injury. Even if you don’t feel any obvious injuries, it doesn’t mean you weren’t injured. Many internal injuries can take hours or even days to become apparent, thanks to the high levels of adrenaline your body produces during traumatic events. Moreover, if you delay seeking diagnosis and treatment, you give insurance companies reason to claim that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident. Your doctor’s report can become critical evidence in linking your injuries to your accident, so keep all the records.
- Fail to file a report with the appropriate authorities: In certain situations, it is essential to report the accident to the proper authorities. You’ll naturally file a police report if it’s a traffic accident (as you should), but you should also file a report in other cases that are less obvious as well. For example, if you get into a slip and fall accident, you should immediately send a formal written notice to the property managers. Such reports often play key roles in proving the incident in future personal injury claims.
- Rely on insurance companies to be fair: Insurance companies pay plenty of lip service about being there for you in times of crisis, but the truth is that they only ever look out for their bottom line. After all, insurance is a business that makes money by banking on paying out the smallest amount possible, even to people who faithfully pay their premiums year after year to protect against just such a calamity. While insurance agents may seem helpful or sympathetic, don’t put your fate in their hands and disclose too much information, which can lead to inadvertently causing yourself to be blamed for the accident (and giving up the compensation you deserve).
- Share too much about the accident: In the age of social media, it may be extremely tempting to want to post about the accident. Any posts or information you share about the accident, however, can be used against you during the claims process or in court. Something as benign as posting a photo of yourself at a sports event could be used against you.
- Not have an experienced personal injury attorney on your side: Not consulting with an attorney is probably the biggest mistake many personal injury victims make. The best way to ensure an optimal outcome for your case is to engage the services of an experienced law firm who can represent you in the courtroom if necessary.
Contact Us Today
Luckily, even if you’ve already made one of these mistakes, it may not be too late- call Rosenblum & Mayer today and ensure the optimal outcome of your personal injury case.