Although there are a lot of legal nuances involved with pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you may think that your case is straightforward and easy to prove. But even under those circumstances, there are unexpected issues that can arise, jeopardizing the viability of your claim and threatening to cut your compensatory recovery short of what you need. Therefore, even if you think you have a strong case, you still need to navigate the process with care.
Far too often, though, we see car accident victims rush through settlement negotiations and make costly mistakes that harm their future. We don’t want that to happen to you, which is why in this post we want to look at some of the most commonly made mistakes in car accident personal injury lawsuits. Hopefully then you’ll be able to avoid them and increase your ability to secure the outcome you need.
Mistakes to avoid in your personal injury lawsuit
It may not seem like it at first glance, but there are a lot of mistakes that can be made in a personal injury lawsuit. This includes each of the following:
- Neglecting to secure proper medical treatment: If you want to recover compensation for the harm that’s been caused to you, then you need be able to demonstrate the severity of your injuries and your need for ongoing care and rehabilitation. But you won’t have that evidence unless you seek out appropriate medical care and follow your doctor’s recommendations. So, don’t skimp on your medical treatment. If you suspect there’s something wrong with you, even if it seems minor, be sure to get it checked out by your doctor. After all, a small symptom could be an indication of a much larger problem.
- Rushing through settlement: We understand that you want to get money out of your personal injury claim as quickly as possible, but rushing to settle your case can cut your recovery short. So, be thoughtful about analyzing what your claim is worth and how much compensation you truly need to support a full recovery of your physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
- Making harmful statements: In the minutes, days or even weeks following your accident, you might be inclined to apologize to the other party for the accident, simply out of a gesture of goodwill. But making statements like this can be dangerous for your claim, as defense attorneys will latch onto them to try to show that you’ve admitted fault. This, in turn, can significantly decrease the power of your case and the amount of compensation that you ultimately end up being awarded.
- Posting on social media: Similarly, your online posts to social media can be taken out of context and used against you to minimize the severity of your injuries. It’s best to stay off social media until your case resolves.
- Lying about your injuries: You have to be open and honest about the harm that’s been caused to you. If you try to embellish them, you’re bound to get caught in a lie that won’t play well with the judge and jury.
Protect the integrity of your car accident personal injury claim
You only get one opportunity to build and present your car accident case. You owe it to yourself, then, to gather as much evidence as possible and to craft the strongest legal arguments available under the circumstances. You also can’t let your case get derailed by mistakes. If you’re ready to aggressively advocate for yourself in your car accident case, then now is the time to think about your next steps and what sort of support you need as you navigate the process.