If you were hurt through no fault of your own and you’re planning on taking legal action, it’s only natural to hope for the best. Sustaining accidental injuries is utterly devastating, after all, and facing a lengthy recovery is enough to threaten most people’s financial security.
Unfortunately, since legal proceedings are inherently unpredictable, there’s no way to guarantee your claim will yield a payout. There are steps you can take, however, to increase the likelihood that you walk away with the compensation you deserve.
Along the way, there are also a few critical missteps you must make sure to avoid. Read on for some of the most common mistakes accident victims tend to make, so you know what not to do:
Even if you were able to walk away from the scene of the accident, it’s imperative that you visit a doctor as soon as you can. Impact injuries don’t always manifest symptoms right away, so just because you feel okay doesn’t mean you are.
Undergoing a comprehensive evaluation right away will ensure the prompt treatment of any injuries before complications can arise. It will also make it easier to prove causation, as seeking care right away will ensure there exists a paper trail between the incident in question and your injuries.
Before you garner support from your friends and followers online, consider what might happen if the insurance adjuster were to see your content. They’ll be looking for any reason to challenge your credibility, after all, so you can be sure they’re going to scrutinize everything you post.
In addition to the more obvious economic damages that arise from accidental injuries, like medical bills and lost wages, claimants are entitled to pursue compensation for non-economic damages like diminished quality of life, mental anguish, and pain and suffering.
Since such losses are not accompanied by any tangible records, though, demonstrating their extent can pose a challenge. This is why personal injury attorneys encourage clients to keep a daily journey. Regular entries about how your condition is impacting your mental, physical, and emotional well-being can serve as evidence of your non-economic damages.
It may be tempting to accept the insurer’s first offer, especially if they reach out fairly soon after the accident, when the damages are accumulating at a rapid rate. Until you reach maximum medical improvement, however, there’s no way to be certain of the full extent of your losses.
At the very least, it’s wise to consult a lawyer before accepting anything from the insurance adjuster. A seasoned professional will let you know whether the offer is actually fair.
At Hodge & Langley Law Firm, we know just how devastating accidental injuries can be. If your life was turned upside-down because someone failed to exercise reasonable care, we’ll help you take the steps needed to make things right again. Call 864-585-3873 or submit our Contact Form to schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in South Carolina.
Submission of information in this contact form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In order to establish such a relationship with our firm we require a direct meeting with the attorney.
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