Did you know there are simple mistakes you can avoid after an accident to maximize your personal injury claim? These are the top five common mistakes personal injury clients make so you don't make them!
Thinking You Can’t Afford A Lawyer
Almost every personal injury attorney will work on a contingency agreement. This agreement states that the personal injury attorney will take a percentage of the settlement offer in a case. In most cases, a personal injury attorney will cover costs out of their own pocket and recoup their costs once the case is finalized. It is likely you will never have to lay out money upfront in order to retain a personal injury attorney.
Accepting What Your Lawyer Says Without Question
Not all law firms operate systematically. If you're being represented by a big law firm and you have yet to speak to the attorney assigned to your case, that may be a red flag. Large law firms often have paralegals who will guide the client from start to finish sometimes without you ever even speaking to your attorney. Communication as such can often lead to poor results in your case. You should never accept what is offered to you without speaking to the attorney personally to understand what your case is actually worth and why you may have been offered a particular amount of compensation.
Giving the Insurance Company An Official Statement
You should never give your insurance company an official statement without proper representation. At The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky, we can provide you with proper representation before speaking to an insurance company. If you're representing yourself in an auto accident, you may be required to give a recorded statement to your insurance company. This statement can then be used against you. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you with your statement to help you better understand what you're answering. If you simply just say you're feeling "okay", this statement can be used against you in court. You can read about car insurance company tactics used to trick you here.
Thinking You Have to Go To Court
If you file a personal injury claim, you do NOT have to file a lawsuit and go to court. Most personal injury cases are settled outside of court and without a lawsuit. It is the insurance companies responsibility to take care of any form of settlement as part of a personal injury case. Proper negotiation after a full review of a case can result in a settlement without court in many scenarios.
Not Seeking Medical Attention
The biggest mistake personal injury clients often make is not getting proper medical attention after an accident. If you were involved in a car accident with minor or severe property damage, you may have a good personal injury case. The only way to document this is to get proper medical attention immediately. The same day you're in an automobile accident, you should go to the doctor or hospital regardless if you are not in any pain as injuries can reveal themselves over time. The longer you wait to get proper medical attention, the harder your case may be to win. If the ability to pay your immediate medical bills is a concern, you can learn about alternative methods of payment by clicking here.
The best way to maximize compensation and be protected after a car accident is to hire an experienced personal injury lawyer. The Law Offices of Matthew Konecky will fight on your behalf while you recover from an injury. Call our office today at (561) 671-5995 to find out if we can help you. You can also download my book 'What The Heck is My Personal Injury Case Worth?' which is available for free.
