Mistakes Commonly Made During a Personal Injury Claim

Being injured in an accident is a frustrating and painful experience and, once you begin the process of pursuing your personal injury claim, you might feel confused by the complexities involved in this legal process.

Protect your claim and avoid making the following mistakes:

• Not seeking medical attention after the accident: You might think you are saving time and money by foregoing a trip to the doctor after an accident, especially if you believe your injuries are minor, but this is a pricey error that could cost you. If you have an injury and it is not properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, you could further injure yourself and, moreover, harm the success of a potential personal injury claim.

• Neglecting your doctor’s instructions: Going to the doctor will mean nothing if you do not comply with his or her instructions. This will not only pose a risk to your well-being, but it will also allow the insurance company to argue that you might not be as injured as you claim, that your recovery was delayed due to your failure to follow your doctor’s instructions, or that the injuries you have were not caused by the accident in question.

• Not being honest with your doctor: It is important to be completely truthful with your doctor. Otherwise, you are doing a disservice to your health and will likely jeopardize the success of your personal injury lawsuit. The smallest lie can put the veracity of your entire claim into question.

• Giving a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster: The insurance adjuster might make you feel like you are obligated to provide a recorded statement, but no such obligation usually exists, so you should politely decline this request. Insurance adjusters are trained to frame questions in a very particular way to elicit responses that can harm an injured victim’s claim. Always consult with an attorney before giving a statement to an insurance adjuster.

• Hiding previous accidents or injuries from your attorney: You hired your attorney to help you and that is exactly what he or she will do, so always be honest and never hide anything that might be pertinent to your case. If you hide important facts from your attorneys, such as previous accidents and injuries, your attorney will not be able to effectively fight on your behalf.

• Not calling the police: Even if the accident appears to be minor, you should attempt to have a law enforcement officer write a police report to document it. Failing to do so is a big mistake that could get your personal injury claim off to a bad start.

Hire a Knowledgeable Milwaukee Personal Injury Attorney Today!

One of the most important steps you can take after being injured in an accident is to hire a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the claims process and to prevent costly mistakes. At Samster Konkel & Safranin Milwaukee, our personal injury attorneys will work diligently to obtain the compensation you deserve and ensure the responsible party is held liable for your injuries.

Do not hesitate to reach out to our legal team at (414) 404-5818 to schedule a complimentary case evaluation with one of our attorneys.