The Top 4 Mistakes That Could Jeopardize Your Personal Injury Compensation

Posted on Category:Law
personal injury

If you have sustained a personal injury and are seeking compensation, avoiding making mistakes that could potentially jeopardize your claim is crucial. Insurance companies and opposing parties may use any missteps or errors in personal injury claims process against you to reduce or deny your compensation . In this discussion, we will highlight the top four mistakes that you should be aware of to help protect your personal injury compensation claim.

Delaying Medical Treatment

treatment

One common mistake that can harm your personal injury claim is delaying medical treatment or not following your doctor’s instructions. Insurance companies often argue that a delay in seeking medical attention indicates that your injuries were not severe or were caused by something other than the incident in question. It is important to seek medical care promptly after the accident and follow through with all recommended treatments and therapies. Maintain thorough documentation of your medical records, including diagnoses, treatment plans, and follow-up appointments.

Giving Recorded Statements Without Legal Representation

Providing recorded statements to insurance adjusters without legal representation is another mistake to avoid. Insurance adjusters may try to manipulate your words or use them against you to diminish your claim. It is advisable to consult with a personal injury attorney before providing any statements to the opposing party or their insurance company.

Settling Too Quickly

Settling your personal injury claim too quickly, without fully understanding the extent of your injuries and damages, can be a critical mistake. Once you accept a settlement offer, you generally waive your right to pursue further compensation, even if future complications arise. It is essential to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who can assess the value of your claim and negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you receive fair compensation that adequately covers all present and future damages.

Misuse of Social Media

In the digital age, one significant mistake that can compromise your personal injury claim is the misuse of social media. Insurance companies and opposing parties often monitor claimants’ social media accounts for any evidence that could undermine their case. Posting content, photos, or comments contradicting your injuries or suggesting activities inconsistent with your claimed limitations can severely impact your credibility and jeopardize your compensation.

Avoiding mistakes that could jeopardize your personal injury compensation is crucial to protect your rights and maximize your chances of a successful claim. By promptly seeking medical treatment, following doctor’s orders, seeking legal representation, not settling too quickly, and being cautious with your use of social media, you can safeguard your claim from potential setbacks.…

Changing Your Personal Injury Attorney

Posted on Categories:Law, Personal Injury Law
personal injury

You have been injured in an accident and want a personal injury lawyer. A friend or doctor may have given you a recommendation of a personal injury firm, or you may have discovered a local lawyer on the net. However, when you have met your lawyer, you found that the relationship is not the most suitable.

attorneyThere may be several explanations for why you are unhappy with your lawyer. Your lawyer may not be returning your phone calls. When you call the attorney’s office, you only communicate to the secretary or get voicemail. Thus, you have never talked to the same person twice. When you finally reach the lawyer, the lawyer is not familiar with your facts. They have no idea what is going on in your situation. Does any of this sound familiar? If yes, then it is time that you have to consider changing your personal injury. 

The Right to Change Attorney Anytime

If you wonder a lot and hesitate what to do with your current personal injury attorney that you are not unhappy with, you have the absolute right to fire your lawyer at any time. Either it is the first day you have hired them, after months, years, or even right before your trial, you can fire and hire another attorney. You and your attorney are comrades concerning your circumstance case. Thus, you need to have a friendly relationship and respect each other. In this case, you, as the client, have to talk openly and be confident in your attorney. If these things are not there, then you want to find another personal injury lawyer.

The Cost to Fire and Hire Another Attorney

Please do not worry much about the cost, because firing one and hiring another will not cost you more. In this case, you will only pay one attorney’s fee. When your injury case ends, you have to pay one attorney’s fee. However, this fee needs further division among the firms representing you based on “quantum meruit,” that is, the reasonable value of those services, or in other words, exactly how much work each firm did. If the next attorney did the work, she or he receives the majority of the attorney’s fee. If both firms did more or less the same jobs, then both will divide the pay equally. The method of dividing the payment should not be the problem. The law firms will work it out once you have resolved your injury case.

The Difficulty to Find a New Attorney

When changing your attorney, you may have a question popping up in your head. Could I have difficulty finding a lawyer to handle my case since they have to split the fee with my first lawyer? Well, the answers may vary. Suppose your first lawyer has been handling your case for quite some time and has done a considerable amount of work on the situation. The new lawyer might be hesitant to take over your case since he or she