Personal Injury Lawyer
When a person pursues legal action for damages, a personal injury lawyer will guide how to proceed. In addition, they will also make recommendations and provide tips to ensure victims can safeguard their claim and prevent problems or complications from arising. The defendant, their lawyers, and insurance companies will be looking for any opportunity to pin the blame on the victim or mitigate the damages they may be facing. Victims of accidents are susceptible to being taken advantage of by the opposing side, especially if they succumb to any of the following missteps:
Failing to Seek Medical Care
Following an accident, a victim may not believe they are injured. As a result, they may forgo medical care that can offer diagnosis and treatment. Because of this, it may become more challenging to achieve the best possible recovery. When it comes to seeking damages for injuries, when a person does not seek medical care, it may become difficult to prove the injuries were associated with the accident that occurred.
Accepting a Settlement Too Fast
At the very start of the legal process, victims may receive an initial settlement offer from the insurance company. Often, these first settlements are low ball offers, coming in at a much lower value than the case is worth. It’s essential to speak with a personal injury lawyer before accepting any such offer. Sometimes a victim may accept this initial offer for fear that this is their only opportunity at gaining compensation for losses. However, remember that insurance companies are businesses looking to pay out as little as possible for claims. A lawyer will weigh in and determine whether their client should accept the low ball offer or if it’s best to continue with negotiations.
Inadvertently Admitting Fault
There could be several opportunities to admit fault for an accident, even if the accident was not the victim’s fault. At the scene of the accident, or when speaking with law enforcement, it’s important to choose words carefully as it’s possible to admit fault inadvertently. At some point, the insurance adjuster may want to speak with the victim; while it’s best to refer to the lawyer, should a victim speak with the insurance company, they should carefully choose their words. Speaking too freely could have a significant impact as the defendant’s lawyers and the insurance company may attempt to blame the victim.
Posting to Social Media
Always refrain from speaking with anyone about the accident; this will include posting any information about the case to social media. This includes posting photos that could make it appear as though the victim is not as injured as they are. Social media posts can act as evidence for the defendant’s legal strategy to prove injuries are not as severe as claimed.
Personal injury cases can be highly complex, and it’s essential to manage them with care to ensure the best possible outcome. Greenspan & Greenspan P.C. has represented clients who have made mistakes that could have potentially impacted their case. No victim should see the compensation they are entitled to reduced because of an error that was made along the way. With the guidance of a lawyer, accident victims have the opportunity for their rights to be protected and their settlement offer to be one they deserve.
