If you have been involved in an accident, you may be considering launching a compensation claim to cover the cost of any medical treatment or loss of earnings which occurred as a result of the time you had to take off work. However, when filing a compensation claim, it is important that you avoid making any of the following mistakes. Below is a guide to 4 common mistakes made by people when filing a compensation claim.
Not seeking medical help
Whenever you have been involved in an accident, it is always worth getting checked out by a doctor even if your injuries do not seem severe. Sometimes, it can take days or weeks for unseen injuries to make themselves known. If you do not see a doctor soon after your accident and later develop symptoms of an injury, it is quite possible that the defence lawyer will argue in court that the injuries you are claiming for are not connected to the accident. Seeing a doctor will allow you to get the treatment you need and will also provide solid medical evidence linking the accident and the injury.
Not claiming until much later
Typically, a personal injury claim will be controlled by a statute of limitations. A statute of limitations refers to a legal time limit in which you can claim. Once this time limit has expired, you will no longer be able to claim for your injuries, even if you have proof that they occurred as a result of another party's negligence. It is essential that you check the statute of limitations in the state where the accident happened so you can make sure you claim within the required time-frame.
Making statements to an insurance company without legal advice
You should never make any statements about your injuries to an insurance company without first taking legal advice. Claims officers from insurance companies as very skilled at interviewing people, and this may result in you undermining your own claim. You should always seek legal advice before making any statement to your insurance company.
Not seeking the services of a personal injury solicitor
While there is nothing stopping you from representing yourself during a compensation claim hearing, you need to be aware that doing so could jeopardise your case. The law requires that evidence and other things be presented in a certain way and that procedures are followed. If you are unfamiliar with the law, it would be very easy for you to make a mistake. You should hire a personal injury solicitor today who will help you to file your claim.
Share17 April 2018
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