According to the Criminal Justice System, defendants in personal-injury cases often rely on expert testimony to refute the plaintiff’s claim. For this reason, plaintiffs must have strong evidence to support their claim, and they should learn the mistakes that could compromise their ability to recover damages.
These cases are often high-stakes matters – especially when the victims have expensive medical bills and cannot return to work. Sadly, even a small mistake, such as putting off a doctor’s evaluation, could threaten your claim.
Five mistakes to avoid after an accident with a negligent driver:
- Forgetting a Police Report
A police report of the incident can strengthen your claim if it shows that another driver’s negligence caused the accident. Getting a police report is especially important if you or a loved one suffered an injury.
- Not Talking to Witnesses
The success of your claim may rely on witness testimonies. For this reason, you should record witnesses’ contact details after a collision. You can contact them later to corroborate your version of events, and it may be less likely that the insurance company will refute your claim.
- Giving Statements without Legal Guidance
Accident victims often try to explain what happened to police officers at the scene. In some cases, they inadvertently admit fault.
It is even worse to implicate yourself when talking to insurance adjusters. They may ask you leading questions to get you to undermine your injuries or imply guilt. Your recorded statements could become evidence to invalidate your claim or reduce compensation. To prevent this, ask your attorney to handle correspondence with insurance adjusters.
- Not Fixing Your Car
It is imperative that you fix your car as soon as the insurance company provides the funds to do so. Many people make the mistake of paying for their health-care bills before repairing their vehicle. This could ultimately make your claim weaker because the other party may argue that the extent of the damage does not warrant repair, casting doubt on your injuries.
- Signing a General Release
If you sign a general release, then you may no longer be eligible for compensation. Often, people sign general releases due to misleading advice. They usually think they are signing releases for property damage, which is seldom the case. Do not put your signature on any release without the approval of a personal-injury attorney.