If you've been injured in an accident that wasn't your fault, and you've filed a claim against the responsible party, you'll want to avoid making costly mistakes. You want your personal injury case to go smoothly, and the best way to do that is to proceed with caution. You want to think about all of your actions, and how they may affect the outcome of your case. To help you avoid troubles with your case, here are three things you never want to do after you've filed your personal injury claim.
Make Recorded Statements
As soon as you make a claim against the responsible party, the insurance company will want to contact you. They may say that they're trying to make sure you get the settlement you're entitled to, but they're actually trying to mitigate their losses. They'll work hard to make your settlement as small as possible. They're going to want you to give a recorded statement so that they can catch you in a lie, or misstatement. Don't give a recorded statement unless your attorney has approved it, and is with you when you make it.
Exaggerate Your Injuries or Losses
When you're discussing your injuries and losses, make sure you're as truthful as possible. Never exaggerate your injuries, or your losses. You might think that playing up the severity of your injuries, or claiming losses you didn't incur, may increase your settlement. However, the insurance company is going to be doing a detailed investigation. If you claim the loss something, and the insurance company can prove you didn't own it, or didn't lose it, you could jeopardize your case. The same goes for the severity of your injuries. It's important to note that you shouldn't downplay your injuries either. If you're in constant pain, you need to acknowledge that.
Post Information on Social Media Sites
If you're an avid social media participant, you should cut back on that until your case is settled. The insurance company may use your social media posts against you, especially if you post pictures of yourself participating in activities that you shouldn't be able to do in your current physical condition. It's also important that you avoid posting negative comments about your injuries, or the incident that caused those injuries. Those comments could end up being used against you, as well. This is particularly true if your comments could be twisted to imply your partial responsibility for the incident.
If you're in the middle of a personal injury case, don't make costly mistakes. Talk to your attorney about other activities you should avoid while proceeding with your case.