How You Might Be Sabotaging Your Personal Injury Case

A personal injury case with substantial payouts can make or break your future, and you should never take unnecessary risks. Unfortunately, many people don’t know that seemingly innocent actions can come back to haunt them during the trial and negotiation process. Insurance companies and defense attorneys will use every trick in the book to limit the financial responsibility of their clients, even if that means attempting to misconstrue your statements and actions. If someone injured you due to their negligence, you need to contact a personal injury attorney who can help navigate the complex legal situation that lies ahead.

Ways You Might Be Endangering Your Personal Injury Case

When you first get in touch with a personal injury attorney, they will recommend that you keep a low profile and let them handle your case while you provide any relevant information and input. However, many people don’t understand the seriousness of the situation or misjudge how tenacious the other party can be. Many things might lead to your case becoming harder to win, including:

Public Social Media Posts – A personal injury case is built upon your injuries, their severity, how badly they hinder your daily routine and lifestyle, and the limitations they set on your future. However, anything you say online might be used by insurance companies to cast doubt on the severity of your injuries.

For example, it is common for people to post about an accident or injury in order to inform their friends or family about the situation and assure them that they are okay. Even if you have injuries, no one wants to cause friends and family to worry excessively, and it is human nature to downplay the pain and concerns that others have. Even a simple comment saying, “I am feeling okay today,” can be misinterpreted to argue that your injuries have already healed and any current claims are exaggerated.

Medical System Mistakes – As mentioned, personal injury cases and their payouts put a large emphasis on injuries and the costs associated with them. When receiving medical care following an accident, it is critical that you are diligent in reporting symptoms and pain, following medical advice, and keeping proof of every service you receive and professional you meet.

Missing appointments gives your adversaries a serious weapon to use against you – even if the reason you missed the appointment is the physical hardship caused by your injuries. Make sure that every correspondence with your doctor regarding new pains and difficulties is documented and ready to be used as evidence to counteract any narratives the other party might try to spin.
Furthermore, always be truthful regarding symptoms. If you have a medical history of headaches, do not try and claim headaches as a new, unexplained symptom following an accident. Any lies or inaccuracies provide a jumping-off point to build bigger holes in your story, and it can even get your case thrown out of court.

Changing Your Story – It might seem obvious that you shouldn’t change your story, but this highlights the importance of never talking to anyone without legal representation. Despite the fact you have a front-row seat to your accident, you are unlikely to know all the details or have the emotional wherewithal to fully understand the situation right after it happens. Huge changes in your initial story compared to your story in court are a red flag and dangerous for your case.

Don’t ruin your chances of a financial settlement or win in court by making one of these simple mistakes. Contact a personal injury attorney following your accident, and listen to their advice regarding any actions during your case, no matter how large or small.

Call Hale Law today for a free consultation and discussion of your case.