Mistakes that Ruin Personal Injury Claims

Denver Personal Injury Lawyer Lists 4 Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Claim

When you’ve filed a personal injury claim, a serious misstep cannot only reduce the amount you can recover, but also bar you from receiving any recovery at all. What may surprise claimants is how easily these a mistake could’ve been avoided if only they had a little early guidance from a Denver personal injury lawyer.

MISTAKE 1: Not Seeking Medical Treatment Immediately

Your first priority after an accident is to get immediate medical attention, even if don’t think you’ve been seriously hurt. You may be in shock and not fully realize the extent of your injuries, or there could be a delay in the appearance of the symptoms. Moreover, your symptoms may worsen over time and could be coupled with slower on-setting mental injuries, including anxiety or depression.

To prove your claim, you must show that your injuries were caused by the accident. This becomes harder to prove the longer you wait. What’s more, your claim to the severity of the injuries may be written off if you refused medical assistance at the scene of the accident.

MISTAKE 2: Failing to Document Your Pain and Suffering

Contrary to what people have told you about managing pain and playing the part of the stoic, this isn’t the time. When you file a personal injury claim, your medical records must be replete with evidence documenting instances of pain and suffering that you’ve experienced as a result of the accident.

If your claim goes to trial, the jury may want to know when you first reported pain to your physician and whether the pain was reported at subsequent visits. Many claimants find it useful to keep a pain and symptom journal about how they felt performing daily activities such as grooming and dressing, noting the level of pain they experienced on some type of measurable 1-10 scale.

MISTAKE 3: Exaggerating Your Injuries

The opposite of underreporting your injuries is overstating their severity or permanency. It’s critical that prior injuries and medical conditions are reported promptly to your treating physician. Revealing your full medical record can help the doctor recommend the best course of treatment and ensure the integrity of your medical records. You don’t want contradictory medical records or testimony to undermine your credibility, which can result in a reduced and unfair settlement.

MISTAKE 4: Speaking to Others before Hiring an Attorney

Be careful when discussing the legal side of the case with anyone before hiring an attorney. This includes giving any statements, written or verbal, to insurance company adjusters and even your physician. Too much information can hurt you because what you say can be taken out of context and held against you in court.

Avoid Costly Mistakes: Contact a Denver Personal Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident in Denver, D.J. Banovitz Personal Injury Law can help. If you’d like to learn more about personal injury claims in Denver, order our FREE book: 7 Costly Mistakes that Can Ruin Your Colorado Injury Case. Call us at 303-300-5060 or fill out our online contact form for a free, no pressure, no-obligation consultation to get honest, compassionate answers to your questions.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.