Don't Make These Mistakes When Filing For A Personal Injury Lawsuit
More often than people would like, mistakes occur and lead to injuries being suffered. However, it is also possible for you to make a mistake that damages your personal injury lawsuit. As soon as an accident causes your injury, time is of the essence. With that being said, it is important that you don't get overly frustrated, as this is when you are most vulnerable to making mistakes. With the help of an attorney, you can hopefully avoid many mistakes that could potentially ruin your chances at obtaining the compensation you deserve. Keep reading to learn a few mistakes you want to avoid making.
Failing to Get Medical Treatment in a Timely Manner
Essentially, your personal injury claim will begin as soon as you suffer an injury. Your first step is to make sure everyone involved in the accident is okay. If you require medical treatment, it is imperative that you obtain it immediately and do not delay treatment. As soon as you begin to see a doctor, it is important that you follow the instructions of your physician throughout the entire recovery process. Detailed records of your procedures and expenses will be needed when the lawsuit is filed to assist in determining the amount of compensation that you are eligible for.
Filing Your Claim After the Statute of Limitations Has Come and Gone
Each state has its own statute of limitations. For instance, the state of Washington has a statute of limitations of three years. Therefore, you have three years from the date of the injury/accident to file your claim. Filing a claim may not be a priority when you are dealing with very serious injuries, but if you miss this three-year window, you will be unable to file a claim at all. Therefore, to ensure you are able to recover the compensation that you are owed, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to get the paperwork in motion.
Accepting the First Settlement Offer
When you are hurting and in need of money because the bills are piling up, it can be incredibly tempting to accept the first offer of money that you are given from the other party or insurance company. After all, you need the money and it will keep you from having to go to trial. However, this initial offer is often a lowball offer that typically does not even take into account all of the damages. More often than not, it is nowhere near the amount that you are truly capable of receiving and should receive. If you end up accepting this initial offer, you are giving up a far more favorable offer and may wind up with long-term expenses that aren't accounted for in that offer.
When you are injured due to the recklessness of someone else, get in touch with a personal injury lawyer to help you navigate the murky waters that you are treading in.