Avoid Making These Mistakes When Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim

If you were injured in an accident through no fault of your own, you could be entitled to compensation for your related losses. Unfortunately, insurance companies, even when their policyholders are clearly at fault, are often unwilling to offer the full value of a claim, in which case, an injured party may need to go to court in order to obtain compensation. However, filing a personal injury lawsuit can be complicated and it’s easy to make certain mistakes that could end up being fatal to the outcome of a case. Read on to learn more about some of the most common mistakes that claimants make when pursuing a personal injury suit.

Giving the Insurer an Official Statement

 After an accident, insurance companies will often try to obtain a recorded statement from the parties involved as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this means that some victims, who are still reeling from their traumatic experience, could end up implicating themselves or confusing important details. In many cases, a victim’s words could actually be twisted by the insurer in an effort to avoid paying out the value of a claim. To avoid this, accident victims should refrain from giving any statements to insurers without first speaking to their attorney.

Failing to Seek Medical Attention 

Being involved in an accident can leave victims experiencing a surge of adrenaline, which can mask the symptoms of even a serious injury. Unfortunately, this means that many injured parties don’t seek medical attention, which not only delays their recovery, but makes it easier for an insurer to deny a claim. To avoid this, victims should be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident.

Waiting Too Long to File a Claim 

In Florida, accident victims have two years from the date of their injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in court. While this may seem like plenty of time, this deadline can quickly creep up on those who are trying to focus on their physical recovery and who must spend weeks or months in the hospital while they recuperate. Missing this deadline can be fatal to a claim, even resulting in its dismissal.

Failing to Obtain Legal Assistance 

Filing a personal injury claim requires compliance with a host of complicated legal rules and procedures. Failing to adhere to any of these rules could end up resulting in the dismissal of a case. There are, for instance, strict discovery rules that dictate how the parties must share evidence at the beginning of a case. Those who are unfamiliar with these rules could end up violating one of them, ultimately facing sanctions from the court and being denied the opportunity to recover compensation for their losses.

Reach Out to Our Tampa Law Office Today 

The post-accident financial recovery process can be confusing. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through it alone and in most cases, are actually discouraged from doing so. At Anderson & Anderson, our dedicated Tampa personal injury lawyers have been helping accident victims in our community with their legal issues for almost 40 years. Call us at 813-251-0072 to get started on your case today.

Sources: 

forbes.com/advisor/legal/personal-injury/florida-statute-limitations/

floridabar.org/rules/florida-standard-jury-instructions/civil-jury-instructions/civil-instructions/#500