Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Personal Injury Cases: Lessons from Legal Professionals

Getting into an accident, no matter if it’s in a car or slipping and falling inside a store, can result in serious injuries and affect your quality of life. Insurance companies are involved in these issues a majority of the time, which means you’ll be offered a settlement that pays for your medical bills and related issues. However, seeking representation from an accident lawyer serving Philadelphia can help ensure you get everything you’re entitled to. 

Unfortunately, many people make decisions that don’t help their case and can result in getting less than they should. Here’s a look at the common pitfalls to avoid in order to get the best possible results from your claim.

Not Reporting the Incident to the Police

It’s not unusual for the police to not show up to an accident, especially if no one’s alerted them after the incident. This can result in a lack of an official record that shows an accident has happened, something that’s a vital part of an auto accident injury claim. A police report also supports your claim for damages and losses you suffered as a result of an accident.

Failure to Seek Medical Care After an Accident

It’s not unusual to “feel okay” after an accident and think that you’ve walked away scot-free. It’s also not unusual to have internal injuries that don’t hurt right away, and it can sometimes be a couple of days for an injury to make itself apparent. Don’t assume that nothing’s wrong and that you don’t need medical attention after an accident.

Don’t avoid getting medical attention after an accident, no matter how minor the incident was. You need to find out if you’re injured and what kind of medical care you’ll need moving forward. Having medical records is proof that you’ve sustained injuries, something that helps you with your personal injury claim.

Failing to Keep Up with Ongoing Medical Care

In the event you sought medical care after the incident, you’ve entered into the process of ongoing medical care for resolving your injuries and engaging in appropriate therapy. This is the act of working with a health professional to monitor your injuries and current health status.

Failure to keep your appointments with your healthcare provider causes you to lose track of how well you’re healing and your long-term care prognosis. Your compensation is partly based on how long it will take you to recover from your injuries, and your ability to work. If you do not keep up with your medical appointments, you have no evidence to present as part of your claim. As a result, you’ll get less in the way of compensation, and you won’t have a solid argument to help you get a better settlement amount.

Not Retaining a Personal Injury Lawyer

You may want to get past the incident as quickly as possible and take what’s offered to you by the insurance company. This is the biggest mistake you can make as you’re signing away your rights to get a just settlement. Retaining a lawyer streamlines the settlement process, and you have a representative who makes sure your interests are protected at all times. When you retain a personal injury lawyer in Delaware County, PA, you get a legal professional who advocates on your behalf and makes sure you get a just settlement.

Contact Katz Injury Law for Help With Your Personal Injury Case

Attorney Robert Katz has almost 40 years of experience practicing personal injury law in the greater Philadelphia area and is prepared to represent your interests in your case. If you or a loved one have been injured through no fault of your own, call the office of Katz Injury Law today to learn more about your options. We will help you put together the evidence you’ll need to support your case and what you can expect from going through the process of making a claim.



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