Common Mistakes Related to Personal Injury Claims

If you have suffered a personal injury due to someone else’s negligence, it is likely a very confusing and stressful time for you.  Unfortunately, because of your own vulnerability and the unscrupulous nature of some insurance companies, you could make a mistake that results in you settling for less financial compensation than you deserve as a result of your injury.  Here are some things to keep in mind if you have recently suffered a personal injury.

• Do not give a recorded statement.  Claims adjusters working for the insurance company of the individual at fault will call you and try to force you to make an official, recorded statement about the events which resulted in your injury.  This is a ploy, as they are hoping you will misspeak or leave out a crucial detail, giving them a loophole to state their client is not at fault and leaving you without compensation.
• Do not accept the initial offer of compensation an insurance company provides you.  First of all, this offer will always be much less than you deserve, working in favor of the insurance company and not in your best interest as the injured party.  Secondly, this offer will usually come very shortly after the incident occurred.  At that point in time, you may not yet know the full extent of your injuries. Keep in mind that some types of injuries do not present symptoms immediately.  You may continue to discover problems with your physical health for months after the incident. If you accept an early offer, you waive all of your rights to pursue additional compensation for health issues discovered after the offer is accepted.
• Do obtain thorough medical documentation of all of your injuries.  These are critical to supporting your case with insurance companies and the legal system.

If you have suffered a personal injury, the best way to protect yourself is to hire an attorney experienced in this area of the law to guide you through the process and make sure you obtain a fair settlement.