Common and Costly Mistakes Personal Injury Victims Make

Avoid These Common Mistakes Personal Injury Victims Make

After an accident or injury, victims can feel overwhelmed. As they recover from their physical injuries and begin to heal their emotional wounds, they can also find themselves facing financial problems. Medical bills pile up as the injury or illness inhibits their ability to work and earn income. The anxiety of an uncertain future can put added pressure on victims in already stressful situations.

It is understandable then that victims may try to work with insurance companies on their own to reach a quick solution. However, insurance companies and other entities are seeking only to protect their own interests and mitigate the damage as much as possible. Victims should act carefully and thoughtfully to ensure they receive fair, timely compensation.

Avoid These Common Personal Injury Mistakes

When considering pursuing a personal injury claim, many victims make the same common mistakes. These mistakes can affect compensation, future care, and undermine the claim itself.

Victims should be careful to:

• Never give a recorded statement to an insurance company. The representative conducting the interview likely has experience in these matters and will work to get victims to say something incriminating that will later be used to lower the amount of compensation awarded. Even seemingly innocent questions and answers can be misconstrued or misrepresented to the insurance company’s advantage.
• Not accept an insurance company’s “final” offer. While the insurance company may put pressure on a victim and press them to accept an offer, victims are allowed time. Time is necessary to fully understand the extent of injuries and to determine what compensation is fair. Typically, a “final” offer is not their ultimate negotiation.
• Not demand too much or too little to settle a claim. Victims are entitled to compensation appropriate to their injuries and needs related to the injury. While it may be tempting to take an early offer and move on from an unpleasant situation, too little compensation can hurt a victim’s future, both medically and financially. Similarly, demanding too much for a claim can damage the case. These cases can be emotional, and victims want deserved justice. However, there are rules and limits to what can be awarded to a victim.
• Understand the consequences of health insurance liens. In some cases, those who provided or paid for the victim’s care related to the accident or injury can file against the settlement. This means they would be able to receive some of the money from the award to cover the victim’s treatment. There are a number of different types of liens, and each has specific requirements. An experienced personal injury attorney can help victims understand the intricacies of any lien as they proceed with the case.
• Settle a case before understanding the full scope of an injury or illness. Personal injury compensation can include money to provide for future medical needs or devices. If a victim settles a case before learning about the full extent of his injuries and possible future complications, he can lose important resources that may be necessary down the road.

If you or someone you love has been injured due to another’s negligence, you may be eligible to make a claim. Contact the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams today to learn more about personal injury cases and your rights in California.