If you watched a lot of television sitcoms growing up, you are probably familiar with the theme of courtroom trials where a perfectly healthy “victim” wears a neck brace in the courtroom to seem more injured than they are. Then, the main characters in the show have to spend the episode proving that the person is faking their injury for sympathy. While these situations may have been good for a laugh, they have nothing to do with what happens in real life.
In the reality of personal injury claims, serious injuries are no laughing matter and dishonesty can have disastrous consequences. This is true of both a victim’s physical health and their legal claim for damages.
Honesty Allows Proper Treatment
If you have suffered a serious injury, your physical and emotional recovery should be your primary focus. To heal, you need the help of medical professionals. For these medical professionals to fully assess your conditions, diagnose you, and create an effective treatment plan, they need information. This includes a physical examination, reviewing whatever medical history is available, interviewing you about your symptoms and how you were injured, conducting various tests, and referring you to specialists, surgeons, or therapists.
Honesty is a critical element to receive proper medical treatment. By under-reporting your symptoms, embellishing your symptoms, or answering any medical questions untruthfully, you risk receiving the wrong course of treatment. This can send you down a path or receiving unnecessary treatment or deprive you of critical medical care that will help you recover.
Dishonesty Can Be Used Against You
In addition to improper medical treatment that can hinder or prevent your recovery, dishonesty can destroy a personal injury claim. It can do so in two big ways:
- Improper medical treatment muddies the issue of “fault”. Nevada has a modified comparative negligence system when assessing fault for a serious injury. Juries are allowed to consider the evidence and assign a percentage of fault to each party. Even if another party was responsible for an event causing an injury—like a car crash—a victim’s improper medical treatment resulting from dishonesty will give room to the opposing party to shift the blame to lessen their liability.
- Juries are allowed to decide whether a witness is credible. If you are caught giving misinformation or being dishonest, then a jury may decide that you are not credible and disregard what you say. This is not what you want when the jury holds the fate of your personal injury claim in their hands.
Contact Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P.
At Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P., our nationally recognized attorney provides passionate, effective representation to individuals who have been seriously injured by the negligence or wrongful act of others. Personal injury law can be intricate, and our experienced lawyers have a track record of success in obtaining maximum compensation for our clients. Don’t leave money behind. We understand the value of your claim and can provide you a no-nonsense assessment of your options. 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.