How to Avoid Common Pitfalls in Personal Injury Claims

At Kingbird Legal, we have handled numerous personal injury claims throughout our time in practice. Time after time, we see the same mistakes crop up. Victims think they’re protecting their legal rights or taking charge of their case, but in reality, they are damaging their claim and making it even harder to get compensation.

Learn more about some of the most common pitfalls to avoid during your personal injury claim, and when you’re ready to find out how we can help you, call Kingbird Legal at 484-289-4880.

Don’t Let Emotions Take Over

First, avoid letting emotions make your decisions for you. It’s easy to react out of anger or fear when you’ve been involved in an accident, but lashing out or trying to appease the other party can only hurt you. This is the time to focus on being rational and save your emotional response for later when you have the support of your loved ones. You only get one chance to handle the immediate aftermath of an injury, so make the most of it by gathering evidence, avoiding excessive conversation with the other party, and connecting with eyewitnesses.

Seek Medical Care Right Away

Waiting too long to seek medical care is one of the most common pitfalls we see. It makes sense; medical care can be expensive, and when you don’t know if a personal injury claim will pay for it, it can be hard to take that chance. However, waiting too long to seek medical care is a huge issue when it comes to seeking compensation. 

The other party’s insurance company won’t pay out unless they are convinced that their client’s actions are the cause of your injury, and without medical documentation, you’ll have a hard time proving it. Get checked out at an urgent care facility or hospital as soon as possible after an injury, and make sure you keep copies of all records and bills you receive.

Limit Your Conversation with the Other Party’s Insurance

The other party’s insurance company is likely to reach out to you at some point, and how you handle this initial phone call can have a major influence on your case. To start, the other party’s insurance company is not on your side; they are not your friend. Anything they ask you is for their own benefit and their own goals, namely minimizing their payout and padding their financial margins. 

Too many people make the mistake of agreeing to a recorded statement or accepting some fault in their injury, giving the insurance company ammunition to use against them. Instead, let your attorney handle all communication with the other party’s insurance adjuster. They know what to say and what not to say.

Keep Your Story Off of Social Media

When you’re injured in a car accident, slip and fall, dog bite, or other type of accident, it’s natural to want to share what happened to you with loved ones. However, doing so can devastate your case. The more information you put out there, the more the insurance company has to work with when it comes to poking holes in your claim. 

Doubtful that the insurance company will look into your social media? Think again. Social media offers a ton of information and resources to insurance adjusters, and entire cases have been built or destroyed because of social media posts. Avoid this pitfall by not saying anything about your accident until the paperwork is signed and you have received your settlement.

Talk to an Attorney Immediately

Perhaps the biggest mistake we see is waiting too long to talk to an attorney. Again, it makes sense; people don’t want to risk losing part of their settlement, so they decide to try it on their own and only consult a lawyer if they fail. The downside of this method is that by the time they come to us, they have likely already done significant damage to their claim. While we’ll still fight tooth and nail to get you the compensation you deserve, the earlier you come to us, the better off you are.

Reach Out to Kingbird Legal Today

Ready to start your personal injury claim and pursue full and fair compensation? Let’s talk. Call Kingbird Legal at 484-289-4880 or send us a quick message online to set up your consultation.