If you were injured through the fault of another party, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and other losses. To win your case, you will need strong evidence to prove liability, causation, and damages. While a personal injury attorney can help you gather this evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, and handle other logistics, there are steps you can take—and mistakes you can avoid—to give your case the best possible chance of yielding a fair settlement or verdict.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
1. Stay off Social Media
The insurance adjuster might be monitoring your online presence to find posts that can be used to dispute your claim. Even if you update your privacy settings, it may still be possible for the adjuster to view your online content through third-party connections. As such, it’s best to stay off social media while your case is pending and to disable your accounts.
Even if you are cautious about what you post, the insurer might misrepresent your social media content to challenge your case. For example, a photo of you taken with friends might be used to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you are claiming, or that you have failed to mitigate your damages by participating in social activities when you should be resting.
2. Avoid Giving a Statement
The insurance adjuster will likely ask you to provide a recorded statement early in the proceedings. It’s wise to decline because what you say might be used to dispute your claim. Your attorney should handle all such dialogue on your behalf so you aren’t coerced into providing a statement that weakens your case.
3. Take Steps to Mitigate Damages
Accident victims have a duty to mitigate the damages they incur over the course of their recovery. In other words, you have to take reasonable steps to minimize your healthcare costs and other losses. This may require you to attend multiple doctor’s appointments, perform physical therapy, and stay out of work for an extended period of time. If you fail to mitigate the damages, the insurance adjuster may contend that you should not be compensated for 100 percent of your losses.
4. Call a Personal Injury Attorney
Hiring a seasoned personal injury lawyer comes with a multitude of advantages that cannot be overstated. Your attorney can help you avoid costly mistakes, gather evidence, consult with various experts if needed, litigate your case if a settlement is not reached, and make sure the opposing party doesn’t take advantage of your vulnerable position.
Call 716-855-3761 to Discuss Your Case with a New York Personal Injury Attorney
At LoTempio P.C. Law Group, we are passionate about helping accident victims and their families fight for the compensation they need to move on with life. We can come to you if you are unable to come to us. Call 716-855-3761 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in New York.