6 January, 2020
You would have gotten chills while watching Youtube videos that show how a drunk person hit another driver whose mistake was just that he was there in the wrong place and at the wrong time. Or you would have found the video of slip and fall in a grocery store quite funny. But have you ever thought what these people have to undergo due to someone else’s carelessness and negligence? And have you ever thought what if you were one of them? Even sounds so dreadful – right?
It is so unfortunate that people have to face the consequences of other people’s negligence in the form of financial, psychological and physical loss. But they don’t have to bear it! Under personal injury law, they have the right to claim compensation for all their losses and damages and other party is obliged to repay if proven guilty. However, some people end up making common mistakes while claiming for a personal injury case. That’s where things start going wrong. If you have also become a victim of someone else’s negligence, you have every right to ask for compensation. But try to avoid these mistakes to get the best compensation for all the trouble you had to undergo:
This is one of the most common mistakes that victims of personal injury cases make. They get confused, frightened and dazed after getting into the accident. Despite being conscious, they give up on their senses; that’s why they can’t rationally decide their immediate reaction.
In a personal injury case, your actions and reactions matter a lot. Your any action can turn against you later on. For instance, if you will not quickly scan the site of the accident, note down information of eyewitnesses and take pictures of your injuries, you might miss your chance to prove that you are a victim and you deserve compensation.
Most people are also not fully aware of their rights, insight into personal injury law, and all the possible legal aspects surrounding it. Like, there is a specific deadline, called the statute of limitation, within which you can file the case. You can’t file the case after expiry of the statute of limitation even if you are deserving and have every right to get due compensation. There are only a few exceptions where you can file a case after the end of the deadline. Like, if you got to know about your injury after the expiry of the deadline, you can still file the case. But you have to prove that you didn’t know about the damage before the deadline, and it is not easy. So, it is always better to stay ahead and file the case before things go out of your hand.
Different states have different laws about the exact limit of the statute of limitations. You should be familiar with your state’s personal injury law to know about your rights and legal jurisdictions so that you don’t have to face any trouble to get your right.
Look, no one likes to take out money out of their pocket, even if they are at fault. You have to take things smartly; otherwise, you might have to bear the consequences in the form of lost wages and heavy hospital bills going out of your pocket.
Some people think that the insurance company will happily hand over money out of sympathy if they show their injuries, shed some tears and be nice to them. Well, it is a myth, and you shouldn’t believe in it. No insurance company will readily give you money even if you are injured and not at fault. Unless you are way too lucky, which is quite rare, you have to fight to get your due right.
Living in a world all engrossed by social media’s mania, we all love to keep our social media updated about the latest happenings in our life. But this mania can turn into a problem for you if you end up posting information that might go against you in the court. Like, you might end up posting that you got into an accident, but you are okay. That one word ‘okay’ can be powerful enough to make everything not-so-okay for you once the case starts.
Remember that the other party will try to go to every extent to save themselves from paying compensation. So, they will dig out everything associated with you to find out something that can weaken your position, including your social media footprints. So, make sure to stay away from social media or refrain from saying something that might make your legal position weak.
Believing in your own abilities is good, but not in this case. Some people make this mistake that they start taking things too easy and don’t hire a lawyer. It is good if you have collected all the evidence, have visited the hospital, listened to the doctor’s instructions properly, and haven’t made any blunders on social media. But that isn’t any guarantee that you will still win the case all alone without hiring any Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer.
The other party will try to go to every extent to nullify your claim and come up with points that your inexperienced might can’t even think. Instead of believing in your abilities, you should hire a lawyer who is familiar with the legal possibilities more than you.
Considering All Lawyers are Equal:
Every person who has a degree in law isn’t a good lawyer. He might know the law, sure, but a degree doesn’t guarantee that he will also be having ace abilities. Experience and expertise matter a lot for handling a personal injury case. But people think that all the people who have written lawyer with their names and claim to be good are on the same level. That’s why either they go with the very first lawyer they meet or choose based on compelling ads. Both of these strategies are wrong and can cost you a lot later.
The lawyer is Just to Present the Case:
Don’t think that a lawyer is just to wear a gown, stand in front of the judge and present your case. A good lawyer takes all your headache related to the case. Just remember that having evidence is not enough or a guarantee that your case is strong enough to win. You have to build the case smartly, consider many legal points, and think rationally to come up with a situation that can earn you a due compensatory amount. That’s where a lawyer can come in handy!
Besides building a case, a lawyer also collects evidence, deals with the insurance company, handles hospital’s matters and gathers essential documents. In short, a good lawyer is like a panacea for all your case related worries.
You are paying fees to the lawyer; you have the right to ask any question from the lawyer. But some people feel reluctant to ask questions thinking that the lawyer might find it stupid or annoying. That’s wrong! You should ask whatever comes to your mind, even if it is a trivial question like, “My case will take the time or not?”. No question is stupid; in fact, your questions might help your lawyer to think on points that he might be missing out.
It is your case, your life’s matter, you have the right to know how your life is going to be shaped by this case. Moreover, personal injury cases vary from person to person, and there aren’t any set criteria that fit to all the cases. So, ask whatever you want!
Another common mistake that people do is that they settle down a claim on less compensation. Understandably, you are financially wrecked by paying heavy hospital bills, lawyer fees, etc. So, you might feel like taking whatever the other party offers to ease out your financial issue. But don’t do it, your patience will reward you a lot in the long run in the form of the best compensation of all your physical, financial and psychological damages.
Don’t settle at all if you are still injured and need medical treatment because you can never estimate how much expenditure you still have to bear.
The state has given the opportunity to every citizen to get compensation through a personal injury case if he/she faces any damage due to intentional or unintentional act of someone else. But the way you carry out things after the mishap, take decisions and make choices define whether you will get your due right or not.
Make sure to avoid making mistakes that most people do and go all out with a strong case. Don’t think of forgiving someone just because you believe it was by mistake. You have every right to claim compensation because you don’t deserve to pay for other’s mistakes and carelessness. Hire a competent attorney, that will make the difference!
I'm Harry Wilson, a senior digital marketing consultant at Globex Outreach. Writing is my part-time hobby because I get to share my experience with the world. Professionally, I help map out a flawless digital marketing plan for the clients at my firm.
Sources:
https://www.davidtoddlaw.com/blog/19-things-you-should-know-to-win-your-personal-injury-case.cfm
https://www.truthlegal.com/14-common-mistakes-personal-injury-clients-make/
https://scrantonlawfirm.com/10-things-personal-injury-attorneys-dont-want-know/
https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/10-things-personal-injury-attorneys-won-t-tell-you-31668
https://www.schultzmyers.com/questions-to-ask-a-potential-personal-injury-lawyer/
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/how-to-choose-a-personal-injury-attorney/
