If you’re pursuing a lawsuit after a serious injury, it’s important that you win. Otherwise, you won’t be able to pay your medical bills. If you’re pursuing a case in court, you’ve likely been denied by an insurance company. You don’t want to lose twice.
You can’t put off getting medical help, but you shouldn’t have to pay for medical expenses if the accident wasn’t your fault. The following tips can help you win your case and recover the compensation you deserve:
- Don’t post details of your accident to social media
When you’re used to posting daily updates to social media, you’ll want to post about your accident. Don’t do it. Don’t post photos of your car or anyone else’s car, either. Keep all of the details private. If you post anything that can be interpreted as an admission of fault, it can be used against you. Jokes and other remarks in the comments section can also be interpreted against you, and it’s legal.
Stay off social media and don’t make statements about your accident,” the Jeffcoat Firm explains. “When you make statements online and to others, they may be considered part of the public record. The other side will look for statements to use against you and fight your recovery.”
If your Facebook posts aren’t private, make them private quickly after the accident. Don’t give anyone any trails to follow. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong, keep your private life private because the driver who caused your accident will be looking for you on social media. If they find you on Facebook, they will go through your posts and might even harass you if you’ve posted your phone number or address.
- See a doctor right away and go to follow-up appointments
You might feel okay after an accident, but some injuries take time to develop. For instance, in a crash, your body will release endorphins and adrenaline. Adrenaline reduces your ability to feel pain. It could be days before you notice minor cuts and bruises. If you go about life as usual not knowing you’re injured, you could do further damage.
Soft tissue damage is difficult and won’t show up in an X-ray. For example, in a minor crash, you won’t necessarily notice damage to internal organs, muscles, or ligaments. If you hit your head, you might think you just have a headache, but over the next week, you could develop a subdural hematoma – a dangerous condition that requires surgery to drain. A CT scan immediately following the accident won’t show the issue, because it takes time for the fluid to collect.
If you hit your head, go back for follow-up scans at least once every two weeks if you feel dizzy or disoriented.
When it comes to your lawsuit, not seeing a doctor right away will give the other side the impression that you’re not as injured as you claim to be. Not seeing a doctor could make you lose your case.
- Never speak to anyone, including your insurance company, before a lawyer
Insurance companies will naturally want to know what happened, but don’t make any statements to them without having first consulted with a personal injury attorney. The insurance companies will use any statements you make to their advantage, and that could hurt your case. Even if you say the wrong thing accidentally, you can’t take it back.
- Go to all prescribed medical and therapy appointments
If you’re going to win a personal injury case, you need to show the court you’re doing everything in your power to recover. If your doctor says going to physical therapy three times per week will help you regain use of your arm or leg, do it – even if you can do the therapy at home, or your spouse is a physical therapist. Schedule and go to your appointments so it’s on record that you’ve gone.
- Don’t wait to file a claim
Although most states give you a few years to file a lawsuit, it’s going to look strange if you wait two years to file. Unless it legitimately took a year for you to discover the extent of your injuries, speak to a personal injury lawyer immediately and get the ball rolling.
Avoid the difficulties of a personal injury claim by following instructions from your doctor and your attorney. Win your case and get the compensation you deserve.
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