Virily Editor
Accidents and injuries can happen when you least expect them, potentially leading to serious harm and lifelong consequences. Often, those who get injured at work, on the road, or simply while out and about can suffer from a wide range of problems as a result, including physical pain, mental anguish, medical bills, loss of work, and more.
Fortunately, personal injury lawyers can help out in these kinds of situations. With a qualified and experienced attorney by your side, you’ll be able to navigate the pitfalls and challenges of personal injury cases more easily, knowing what to do, what not to do, how to react, and so on in order to pursue a satisfying conclusion and get the compensation you deserve.
7 in 10 clients receive some form of settlement for personal injury claims, and payouts can range from a few thousand dollars up to tens of thousands in certain cases, with an average value close to $50,000, so it’s certainly worth contacting an attorney and taking the matter seriously if you do get hurt because of the negligence or recklessness of others.
However, not every personal injury case flows smoothly and seamlessly, and there are various problems that can arise along the way which could damage your chances of a successful outcome. With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the key things not to do for personal injury cases, helping you stay on the right path.
Not Keeping Quiet
If you’ve been injured somehow, you’ll naturally feel a need or desire to share the news with friends, telling the story on social media to your followers, and explaining what happened to those you know. However, talking too much about the details of the case can cause a lot of problems later on.
Opposition legal teams and insurance adjusters can try to use your words against you and will not be opposed to scanning through social media and questioning colleagues to find any detail that could trip you up. In general, attorneys recommend keeping quiet about your case and waiting to share the details with your friends and family only after it’s all over.
Preparing for a Court Case
In the vast majority of cases, personal injury cases don’t end up in court, so if you’re heading into this situation with an idea in your mind of going to court someday and arguing the matter in front of a judge in a jury, you may want to review your expectations.
Often, these kinds of cases don’t have to go all the way to trial because they get settled beforehand. Trials are expensive and time-consuming, after all, so both parties can usually come to an agreement that saves them a lot of time and money, as well as reducing your stress levels too.
Not Following Medical Guidance
When you get injured, the first thing to do is to visit a doctor, get your injuries diagnosed, and listen carefully to the doctor’s instructions, making sure you follow their advice to the letter in the days and weeks to follow.
Doctors are highly trained and qualified in their fields, and they know what’s best for their patients. Those who choose to ignore their advice not only risk aggravating their injuries but could also miss out on valuable compensation as opposing legal teams could argue that if you’re not following the doctor’s orders, your injuries probably aren’t as serious as you claim.
Forgetting to Document Your Injury
Getting injured is a stressful experience, and it’s normal to panic and behave a little differently in this kind of situation. However, it’s important to do all you can to remain calm, collected, and focused on the key tasks of getting medical advice and making sure to document your injury too.
Taking photos, making notes, gathering statements from witnesses, and more can all help to build up evidence for the case your personal injury lawyer makes later on. Documentation is a key part of the process, and if you don’t prepare evidence of your injury, your lawyer will have less to work with when trying to defend you.
Final Word
Many people, especially those going through the personal injury claim process for the first time, can be quite intimidated by the situation and make simple mistakes through inattention or carelessness. It’s perfectly natural, but it could jeopardize your chances of success, so if you want your case to proceed smoothly, remember to stay focused and trust in your attorney to guide the way.
