An injury attorney on the common mistakes that can sabotage your injury claim

injury lawyer

If you plan to file a claim for your injury-related accident, contact an injury attorney immediately. He/she can explain several important “do’s and don’ts” during your claims process.

Mitigate your damage

The law requires you to mitigate your physical and financial damages. In a nutshell, this means that you should avoid doing anything that will make your injury worse.

Your injury attorney can advise you on the details, but you should do everything in your power to improve and minimize any financial impact of your accident. Below, an injury attorney discusses some of the things he must do.

listen to your doctor

As your injury attorney will tell you, the insurance company (or the judge) will be looking at your behavior after the accident. Most importantly, did you listen to your doctor? If not, at least as far as the potential value of your case is concerned, you risk shooting yourself in the proverbial foot. Following your doctor’s advice includes:

– Keep all your doctor’s appointments – This is required. If you have to cancel, be sure to give the doctor the courtesy of giving advance notice. Your injury attorney will tell you that too many “no-shows” on your file will likely reduce the settlement value of your case.

– Go to physical therapy: Anyone recovering from an injury knows that physical therapy is time consuming and inconvenient. Even so, do not stop going if the doctor orders it. First of all, physical therapy can really help, especially for soft tissue injuries. Too many canceled PT sessions can undermine your claim.

– Take your medications – Above all, follow your doctor’s instructions regarding medications, therapy exercises, casts or braces, etc. Your injury attorney will have a hard time convincing an adjuster or jury of the extent of your injuries if you don’t follow through with treatment.

– Take it easy: Your doctor may recommend bed rest, limited physical activities, time off from work, etc. If so, heed their advice. Let your injury attorney explain ways to potentially recover your lost earnings.

When filing an injury claim, it is important to have the best legal experience on your side to obtain the most optimal compensation for your injuries and losses. Let an experienced injury attorney defend you after your injury accident. Contact your attorney immediately after an injury or accident, be prepared with the details, and follow your attorney’s advice, as they have your best interest in mind.