Don’t Make These Common Mistakes When Building Your Motorcycle Accident Claim

If you were seriously hurt in a motorcycle accident, you’ll have to put together a strong claim before you can pursue compensation for the associated damages. To give your case the best chance of success, you’ll also have to avoid making critical mistakes along the way.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes that motorcycle accident claimants make over the course of the proceedings:

1. Remaining Active on Social Media

If you talk about the accident, your injuries, or your activities after the wreck online, the opposing party may use your posts to dispute your claim. For this reason, it’s best to stay off social media altogether until your case has been resolved.

If disabling your accounts temporarily is not an option, you can reduce the risk of jeopardizing your claim inadvertently by:

• Adjusting your privacy settings so only approved connections can see what you post;
• Filtering all new friend and follower requests and ignoring those from people whom you don’t recognize;
• Not posting about your expenditures, the accident, or your injuries;
• Not “checking in” to public places; and
• Asking friends and loved ones not to tag you in their own posts.

2. Giving a Statement to the Insurer

The claims adjuster may request a statement fairly early in the proceedings; however, talking about what happened could end up hurting your case. Should the opposing party or an insurance adjuster reach out, simply refer them to your personal injury attorney, who will be happy to handle all correspondence on your behalf.

3. Accepting a Premature Settlement

You may be inclined to resolve your claim as quickly as possible, especially if your financial security is threatened. If you accept a payout before determining the total extent of the damages, though, you could end up in financial turmoil. It’s not uncommon for doctors to underestimate the amount of time a patient will need to recover. If you accept an early settlement, your medical bills, lost income, and other damages might exceed the settlement amount. 

4. Failing to Mitigate Damages

In order to seek the maximum payout possible, personal injury claimants must mitigate their damages. This includes seeking prompt medical care and following all doctor’s orders.

If you fail to take reasonable measures to mitigate your losses, you could be deemed partially liable for their extent. This, in turn, would reduce the total compensation to which you are entitled.

Speak with a South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorney

At Hodge & Langley Law Firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that unanticipated injuries can take on the whole family. If you were seriously hurt through no fault of your own, we will help you gather the evidence needed to pursue the compensation you deserve.

By letting us handle the logistics of your case, you can focus on more important matters, like making a full recovery. Call 864-585-3873 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free consultation with a motorcycle accident lawyer in South Carolina.