Knowing that you have an avenue for recovering losses after an accident caused by someone else’s negligence can be comforting. If you ever sustain an injury, ensuring you can pay your bills, afford medical care, and cover other losses is vital. Personal injury claims are valuable for securing compensation since they allow victims to hold the responsible party liable for their losses.
Unfortunately, accident victims unfamiliar with these legal procedures may make mistakes that could cost them significantly. Making even a single error can undermine a case and make the process more difficult. Understanding what factors can invalidate a Washington personal injury claim can help you avoid jeopardizing the case. To better ensure you may be able to receive full compensation, it is best to discuss your case with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Not Seeking Medical Treatment Quickly After the Accident
Failing to seek medical care immediately after sustaining an injury is a common error people make when preparing to file a personal injury claim. By delaying treatment for a long time or forgoing treatment altogether, you risk subjecting yourself to more serious medical problems and undermining the validity of your claim.
If you wait too long to get help, the legitimacy of the care given for your accident-related injuries is called into doubt. Therefore, seek prompt medical attention after an accident and hold on to your medical records. Many people feel okay immediately following an accident and end up underestimating the severity of their injuries. However, not being in immense pain doesn’t mean you aren’t severely injured. Sometimes, it can take days before you begin to experience the symptoms of your collision injuries.
Ignoring Medical Advice or Not Completing Medical Treatment
Following an accident, you should not only seek medical attention as soon as possible, but you should also follow the advice that professionals provide you. You’ll get advice on the best course of treatment from your doctors and any emergency room staff. Heeding this advice and following your treatment plan will help you heal properly, and it will support your claim.
Your case’s settlement offer will be impacted by the treatment you receive. Getting the care you require will enable you to compile a thorough record of medical expenses, which will determine the settlement amount you will receive if your claim is successful.
Social Media Posts After the Accident
It is in your best interest not to talk about your injury or accident on social media. Posting about an accident on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, or a blog might be tempting, but whatever you post online may be used against you to discredit your claim. You likely shouldn’t post anything on social media while your case is still pending.
The other party’s insurance company and legal counsel will most likely search your social media accounts for posts alluding to your accident or anything related to your physical condition following the accident. If you make these posts, you risk being held accountable for anything you say about the accident. For example, the opposing party may argue that you are not actually hurt if you post photos of yourself engaging in any physical activity.
Waiting Too Long to Take Legal Action
Some accident victims make the mistake of waiting too long to seek compensation for their accident. It is a mistake to assume you have an infinite amount of time to pursue compensation from the responsible party. There is a statute of limitations on personal injury cases.
Typically, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Washington is three years from the time of the event that caused the injury. You will not be able to pursue a personal injury claim at all if it is not made before the statute of limitations period has passed. You won’t have to worry about the statute running out before you can take action if you pursue a claim as soon as possible.
Protect Your Right to Compensation With Reliable Legal Counsel
Personal injury lawsuits can become complicated if you make choices that hinder your case. These factors could make handling your case more complex and ultimately cost you your settlement. Regardless of what your case entails, you should consider retaining the services of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer to help ensure your claim is settled for a fair sum and in a reasonable amount of time.
Premier Law Group houses a legal team dedicated to helping accident victims obtain fair compensation. We put a lot of effort into assisting our clients by handling their complicated cases. We are a professional and client-centered firm committed to seeking the best outcome, so our clients can get their lives back on track. We offer a free case evaluation for accident situations, and we do not charge fees unless we win your case. Call (206) 880-7518 or use our contact form to reach out to us today.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.