If you have suffered a serious injury due to someone else’s recklessness or neglect, you have a legal right to seek damages by way of a personal injury claim. Even if you bear no responsibility for your injuries, there are mistakes that you can make following an accident that can jeopardize your claim. Understanding these mistakes can help you avoid them and allow you to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Mistake 1: Not Seeking Medical Attention
If you are in a car accident and feel like you have any sort of physical injury, you need to seek medical attention. The physics of car accidents wreak havoc that the human body was not designed to endure. Beyond obvious visible injuries, whiplash, concussions, and spinal injuries are incredibly common and can cause lasting damage. Thus, even if you just feel a little “sore”, you should take your health seriously and ask a medical professional for an examination. Often times, that soreness increases with time. If you don’t seek medical attention, the negligent party’s insurance carrier will use this fact against you and will not offer you adequate compensation to redress your injuries.
Mistake 2: Not Following Medical Advice
If you seek medical attention, make sure that you follow the advice of medical professionals. If you are told you need emergency treatment, undergo that treatment. If you are prescribed medication, take it. If you are referred to a specialist, go to that specialist. If you need surgery, get surgery. If you need physical therapy, follow through with it. Failure to follow your doctor’s recommendations will be used by the negligent party’s insurance company against you.
Mistake 3: Not Filing a Claim
You have a two-year limit from the time your injury occurs. Failing to file a personal injury lawsuit within those two years bars you from seeking damages later unless the statute of limitations has been tolled for some reason, such as the injured party was a minor. In reality, you should pursue a claim as soon as possible, as critical evidence supporting your claim can diminish or disappear as time passes.
Mistake 4: Not Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes that people make is trying to settle their claim without even consulting with a personal injury attorney. A claim can be worth far more than a victim realizes, and a personal injury attorney understands the law and what fair compensation looks like. We offer free case consultations, so there is no risk in hearing what an experienced attorney has to say about your potential claim.
Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. is Here for You
If you have been the victim of a car or truck accident, contact Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman, L.L.P., if you want to explore a personal injury claim. Our award-winning attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in damages on behalf of our clients and have a reputation of excellence. We will listen to you, respond to your calls, and fight for your maximum compensation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we do not get paid unless we recover damages on your behalf. Call Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. today at (775) 227-2280 to schedule a free case consultation or contact our office through our website.