Avoid These 5 Common Legal Mistakes After a Personal Injury

When you are injured in Texas, whether from a car wreck, a slip and fall, or a workplace accident while going about your daily activities, your life can take a different turn. Now, instead of keeping up with work daily, you have to keep up with doctor appointments and meetings with your lawyer.

It is not surprising how quickly victims seize the compensation opportunity, as it can go a long way toward restoring them to their previous state before the accident. “When dealing with a personal injury claim in Texas, there are several mistakes you must avoid at all costs to get maximum compensation,” says premises liability lawyer Felix Gonzalez of the Felix Gonzalez Accident and Injury Law Firm.

1. Waiting Too Long to Notify Relevant Parties and File Your Claim

After an accident, the clock starts ticking against you, and failure to act within the two years provided by the statute of limitations can bar your case. Therefore, it's a good idea to avoid waiting until everything is sorted before you start working on your case. Instead, immediately after the accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney and discuss your case with them.

Your lawyer can handle the legal aspects of your case, ensuring the right filings are done in time while you focus on recovery.

2. Speaking to or Giving a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

Immediately after an accident, one group of people you can be certain will show up is the insurance companies. Dealing with numerous accident cases means having a team of individuals skilled in this area of law who are always on hand to take advantage of any loophole. One mistake you do not want to make is speaking with an insurance company or its representatives without first consulting with your attorney.

What is worse than speaking with them is providing them with any recorded statement about the incident. If you do, there is a high possibility that they will twist whatever you say to favor the direction they want the case to take.

3. Failing to Get Proper Medical Attention or Missing Any Follow-up Treatment

You should always prioritize medical appointments, regardless of how healthy you think you are. Always receive proper medical attention and complete follow-up treatments. If you are unwell, it can exacerbate an already difficult situation.

It can also be used by the at-fault party to argue that your injuries are less serious than you claim. Failing to follow up on treatment could result in a reduced compensation amount.

4. Posting Too Much on Social Media About the Case Before the Conclusion

In this social media age, there is always a strong desire to update our fans and followers about what's going on in our lives. However, with personal injury claims, this approach may not always be ideal, as anything said on social media can be misinterpreted by the at-fault party or their insurance companies.

5. Settling Too Quickly When the Extent of Your Injuries Has Not Been Determined

If you rush into settling, you might get caught up in a lowball settlement. A way to avoid this is to take your time to review every aspect of your case and injury. You can enlist the services of a personal injury attorney to help analyze your case and injuries and properly evaluate them. In this manner, you can determine a settlement figure that accurately reflects the true cost of your injuries.

Conclusion

With personal injury cases, what you do is always as important as what you do not do. You must report to the police and document evidence, but knowing what not to do is also vital. You should refrain from agreeing to any recorded statement by anyone without first speaking to your lawyer. You should also limit or completely avoid any social media presence during that period. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Texas about your case can help prevent some of these mistakes.