Mistakes To Avoid Following An Injury

The Steps You Take Following An Injury Matter

Following an injury, your actions and behavior matter greatly. Insurance companies try to pay as little as they can on a given claim and work hard to discredit victims. They hire aggressive attorneys and private investigators and endeavor not only to identify weaknesses in a case — but to create the weaknesses in the first place. As such, it is critical to find a personal injury attorney who can defend your rights and assert your interests. Nugent Law can help. With offices in Marlton, and serving throughout Burlington County, we work closely with our personal injury clients and help guide them through every step of the process. Drawing on our 30 years of experience in the field, we make sure our clients avoid the most — and least — common legal mistakes.

The Most Common Missteps

After three decades, we have come to recognize the missteps that individuals are most likely to make — mistakes that can compromise an individual’s ability to obtain adequate compensation. These include:

  • Failing to seek medical attention immediately — Whether with family or with work, many individuals are extremely busy. Most people try to avoid unnecessary doctor’s appointments even if they are in pain. Yet in order to receive damages after an injury, it is imperative to seek immediate medical attention, as doctors provide an objective and authoritative record that can be crucial in court.
  • Failing to follow and document a medical regimen — Personal injury matters hinge on documentary evidence. Being able to prove you received appropriate medical care, and followed medical advice, is key to winning damages. For this reason, we recommend that our clients keep a diary of their symptoms, pain levels, medical examinations, prescriptions, and related concerns.
  • Failing to document the injury site — If you have been hurt, your first thoughts do not likely pertain to taking pictures of your injury and the spot where it occurred. Nevertheless, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible with regard to the circumstances surrounding your injury. If there are relevant structural or mechanical deficiencies, document them with your camera. If there were witnesses, see if you can obtain their contact information and have them make recorded statements.
  • Failing to obtain a police report — Police, like doctors, are objective authorities whose reports provide a documentary trail. In cases of seemingly minor injuries or accidents, they may be reluctant to write an incident report. Yet ask for one — an officer may pick up on crucial details that you missed yourself.
  • Failing to retain legal help — In personal injury matters, many individuals try to work directly with insurance companies and opposing counsel. The results range from merely bad to disastrous. An experienced lawyer understands how insurers operate — that is, how they strive to underpay claims. Such fights should not be fought alone; a skilled lawyer can maximize your return.

If you would like to speak with an attorney, please reach out to our firm. We offer free consultations, enabling us to assess your case without obliging you to pay. You can call Nugent Law at 856-596-9770 or schedule an appointment online.