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In most scenarios, mistakes can be remedied with a carefully worded apology, bouquet of flowers, or box of chocolates. However, personal injury proceedings are far less forgiving. The mistakes you make while your claim is pending could have a significant impact on the settlement you eventually receive. Sometimes, if you’ve made a particularly serious error, your claim could even be denied. 

In this article, we look at a few common mistakes claimants often make and explain how you can avoid them in the weeks ahead: 

Providing a Recorded Statement 

If you haven’t yet investigated the accident and taken stock of your damages, you should not provide a recorded statement to the insurance company. While these interviews may seem harmless, the insurer is often looking for particular answers they can use to challenge your case. As such, if you haven’t yet looked into what happened and assessed the losses you’ve incurred, there’s a real risk that you will say something that turns out to be inaccurate or untrue, bringing your credibility into question and putting your settlement at risk. 

Staying Active on Social Media 

While social media lets you stay connected at all times, this big selling point could also be the biggest threat to the success of your personal injury claim. Claims adjusters now routinely monitor claimants’ social media feeds for evidence that could be used to dispute their cases. As such, anything you post online could be leveraged to bring your claim crumbling down.  

For instance, photographs of you at a party, engaging in physical activity, or enjoying your hobbies in the wake of the wreck could be used as proof to assert that your injuries aren’t as serious as you are claiming. Alternatively, your comments could be misrepresented or taken out of context to challenge your case. 

Skipping the Doctor’s Visit 

Even if you were able to stand up after the wreck, you should still see the doctor as soon as possible. Failing to undergo a medical assessment in a reasonable timeframe after an accident could lead to disputes when you file your claim. For instance, the insurer might argue that you suffered your injuries in a different incident as the date of your doctor’s visit doesn’t correlate with the day of the wreck. 

Ignoring Your Doctor’s Orders 

Going against your healthcare provider’s instructions is a serious mistake that could cost you thousands of dollars in compensation. The insurer may assert that your actions—or inaction—exacerbated your injuries or prolonged your recovery resulting in additional, but ultimately avoidable, medical expenses. In some situations, you could be held liable for these costs. 

Failing to Track Your Damages 

In a personal injury case, you will need to present proof of the losses you incurred. Whether it’s invoices detailing the costs of your treatments or pay stubs showing the wages you’ve lost since the accident, you should save copies of any accident-related documents in a safe place ready to share with your attorney. 

Discuss Your Claim with a California Car Accident Attorney 

A serious car wreck can put immense strain on your physical, emotional and financial well-being. Thankfully, the settlement from a personal injury claim can go a long way towards alleviating some of the pressure you are under right now.  

At HPIL, we can assist with almost every aspect of your case, from conducting an in-depth investigation into the accident to representing you at each stage of proceedings. Contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or head over to our contact page HERE to lock in a case assessment with a California car accident attorney. The initial consultation is free, and you won’t have to pay any attorneys’ fees unless we win your case.