When someone else’s negligent actions cause you harm, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit to seek compensation for damages. While most suits are successful if you can prove negligence and causation, a personal injury case can be derailed fast by preventable errors. Here’s what you need to know about the four mistakes that can quickly ruin your personal injury claim.
1. Failing to Seek—or Follow—Medical Advice
If you don’t seek medical advice after an injury, then proving that you suffered physical harm can be very difficult to do. What’s more, if you get an accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendation, you need to follow it. If you don’t, then the extent and severity of your injuries may be in question.
Make sure you hold onto all of your medical bills and doctors’ reports and don’t post anything on social media that could imply that you’re not as injured as you’re claiming to be.
2. Admitting Fault
Admitting fault is one of the biggest mistakes that you can make a personal injury claim. And admitting fault doesn’t necessarily mean to say, “It was my fault!”
Instead, it can be as minor as apologizing for the accident, or making some admission of guilt, like saying that you were traveling too fast or could have been paying better attention. If you admit fault, your proportion of negligence can reduce your damages award.
Don’t forget about your social media accounts! There are dangers when using social media during a personal injury claim, such as bragging about a settlement or posting photos of yourself taking part in physical activity that could be misread as you lying about your injuries.
3. Filing a Claim Past the Statute of Limitations
In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the statute of limitations for filing a claim for damages in two years. The two-year constraint begins on the date of your injury; you have two years to file a civil action.
If you file past the two-year deadline, then a court will most likely refuse to hear your case. It’s best to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to make sure that you’re acting within the period of two years.
4. Not Hiring an Attorney
Don’t be fooled into thinking that your personal injury case will be straightforward enough to handle on your own; civil law is extremely complicated and requires the knowledge of a legal professional. From gathering evidence to understanding terms like negligence and liability to knowing statutes of code, an attorney is key.
At Cordisco & Saile LLC, our Bucks County personal injury lawyers can help you. To learn more about our services, call us at 215-642-2335 for a free legal consultation today.
