Hopefully you never need to file a personal injury lawsuit in your life, but you need to be prepared in the event that you suffer an injury and need to pursue compensation. During a personal injury lawsuit, knowing what common mistakes to avoid can be extremely helpful in winning an award. But what issues are most common among inexperienced claim filers, and how you can avoid them? We explore those answers in today’s blog.
Avoiding Common Personal Injury Lawsuit Mistakes
Every injury lawsuit is different, but oftentimes people encounter similar issues enroute to a claim award. Here’s a look at some of the most common mistakes claimants make when pursuing a personal injury award.
1. Not Reporting Their Injuries – If you’re injured at work, you should report your injuries to your manager or supervisor, but what if you are injured in your free time? Who do you “report” the injury to? Depending on the circumstances, you may want to contact the police to file a report about the incident. If there doesn’t appear to be a reason to involve the authorities, you’ll want to have your injuries cataloged by a doctor. Visit a doctor sooner rather than later.
2. Not Visiting A Doctor– In order to earn an injury award, there needs to be legitimate proof that valid injuries exist. The best way to prove the existence of injuries is by undergoing an assessment from a medical professional. Without professional confirmation that injuries are present, you’re not going to have any success filing a claim. Again, the sooner you visit a doctor and they can connect your injuries to the accident, the better it is for your claim.
3. Minimizing Your Injuries– Many people have a propensity to minimize their injuries, especially around family, co-workers or their doctors. Unfortunately, doing this can cause problems for your injury claim. We don’t want you to embellish your symptoms, but don’t minimize them either. Be open and honest about your injuries, your symptoms and your discomfort.
4. Accepting A First Offer– We totally understand that you may want to put an end to your injury claim and earn an award, but don’t just jump at the first offer that comes your way. Insurance companies rarely come with their best offer out the gates, and they are hoping to prey on your desire to earn an award. Offering a fair counter that is based on the facts of the case can ensure you earn a much larger injury award.
5. Going It Alone– It’s certainly possible that you could earn an injury award on your own, but it’s very unlikely that you will maximize your award amount. Not only can a lawyer develop a strong case and argue it against an insurance company, but they can pursue other benefits that you may not even be aware of. There’s a good chance that a lawyer will end up paying for their services by getting you much more than you would have earned on your own. Let us help you get a bigger slice of the compensation pie.
6. Giving Up On Denial– A significant portion of injury claims are initially denied, and far too often people assume that’s the end of their pursuit. Oftentimes these claims are denied for clerical reasons or because they simply need more information, so don’t be discouraged if you receive a denial letter. Working with a lawyer who knows how to avoid denials and counter a rejection letter can ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Let us help you avoid some of these common mistakes. For more information, or for help with a different aspect of your injury claim, reach out to the team at Hey Workers today at (844) 439-9675.
