Personal injury cases are complex legal proceedings that can take years of a lawyer’s time and significant financial investments to resolve. Proper preparation is half the battle, but it’s easy to make mistakes that may set your case back or even decide its outcome. This blog post takes a closer look at the most common personal injury mistakes and how to avoid them in your own case.
In fact, having an experienced personal injury by your side itself helps you reduce the risk of making any mistakes in your personal injury claim. Click here to understand more about how a personal injury lawyer can be of great help to you when navigating through a personal injury claim.
Let us now see into the 4 common mistakes to avoid in a personal injury case.
- Don’t admit fault
This is probably one of the most common mistakes that you must avoid. Many people, particularly those who are not accustomed to litigation, take it for granted that they must admit some fault in order to get a settlement. The truth is that in a personal injury case, the plaintiff needs only to show that the defendant was negligent and did so through an intentional or reckless act. A personal injury lawyer can arrive at a settlement on behalf of the plaintiff without having to admit fault or liability.
- Don’t negotiate a settlement on your own
Many people, in their haste to resolve a personal injury claim, go directly to the other party and start negotiating. This can usually end up very badly for the plaintiff, who ends up settling for less than what they deserve. The plaintiff should instead get the services of a personal injury lawyer before negotiating a settlement. A personal injury lawyer will be able to negotiate a settlement that is fair for both parties and also help the plaintiff get a better deal.
- Avoid giving any statement without the presence of your attorney
This is another pitfall that many people make. People usually seek the services of an attorney to take care of their personal injury cases, and yet they seek to give some statements without the presence of their personal injury lawyer. This can lead to them saying things that may be held against them in a future court hearing.
- Avoid delay
After an accident that has led to personal injury, it is important to act quickly. There is a statute of limitation that governs a person’s right to file in court. This statute is limited by state laws and varies from state to state. The sooner one files, the better the chances are that they will get a fair settlement for their case.