Most people who have been involved in an accident don't have any idea what they should do first, or more importantly, what they should NOT do.
Here are 5 mistakes that can destroy your personal injury claim.
1
Misrepresenting Your Accident or Injuries to Your Doctor.
Most doctors document in their records how you describe the accident and your injuries. If your description varies from the way the accident or injuries are described in the police report or other statements, the insurance company can use the descriptions to make you appear untruthful.
Additionally, insurance companies are very knowledgeable about the types and severity of injuries from accidents. If you exaggerate your injuries, it can cast a shadow of doubt on your entire case, and make it very difficult to pursue.
2
Hiding Past Accidents From Your Lawyer.
If you have been in other accidents, your lawyer can investigate and make a determination as to whether it is a valid problem in your case. The other side will be interested in knowing how many past accidents you have been in. Really, they probably already know the answer or have easy access to that information. Insurance companies subscribe to insurance databases, and often the only reason they ask you this question is to test your credibility.
If you do not tell your lawyer, and you misrepresent your accident history to the insurance company, then it is almost guaranteed that you will lose your case.
3
Hiding Other Injuries from Your Lawyer.
If you saw a doctor or other healthcare provider, then there is a record in existence that the insurance company will find. Your lawyer can deal with this if he knows about it. You should be upfront and honest with your attorney about any injuries that occurred before or after this accident. If you lie about it, and the insurance company finds out, your case is over.
4
Not Having Accurate Tax Returns.
In many cases, a claimant will have lost income because of the accident. You will only be able to claim lost income if your past tax returns are in good order. Again, being honest with your attorney is the only way to handle it, because he or she can deal with the problem if they know about it.
5
Misrepresenting Your Activity Level.
Insurance companies routinely hire private investigators to conduct videotape surveillance. If you claim that you cannot do certain things, and then you get caught on videotape, you can forget about your claim.
Personal injury lawsuits are serious business. Insurance companies are willing to spend a lot of money investigating claims. Juries are very smart and will see right through any shenanigans.
Before you talk to a claims adjuster, it is usually a good idea to at least meet with a personal injury attorney in your area.
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