Getting compensation after an accident isn’t as simple as just filing a claim. Insurance companies look for any reason to pay you less, or nothing at all, even if you’re badly injured and deserve the money. Minor mistakes can make them doubt your case.
If you’re not careful, you could lose out on the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Personal injury attorneys can help you by guiding you through the process and making sure you don’t make any mistakes that could cost you your claim.
4 Things You Should Never Do When You Have a PI Claim
These four factors can negatively affect the outcome of your PI claim, so be sure to avoid them:
Delaying Medical Treatment
One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting too long to see a doctor. Even if you feel fine right after the accident, some injuries, such as concussions or internal bleeding, don’t show symptoms right away.
If you don’t get checked out immediately, the insurance company might argue that you weren’t actually hurt or that something else caused your injury. Even after the first visit, you need to follow through with all medical treatments, attend every doctor’s appointment, and stick to their recommendations.
Constantly missing or even stopping treatment altogether will give the insurance company grounds to say that your injuries are not as bad as you claim them to be.
Giving Conflicting or Inaccurate Statements
Your story needs to stay the same every time you tell it. Whether you’re talking to the police, a doctor, an insurance adjuster, or a lawyer, even small inconsistencies can hurt your case. If your statements don’t match up, the insurance company will use that against you to argue that you’re unreliable or exaggerating your injuries.
It’s easy to forget details, especially if you’re stressed or in pain, but it’s always better to say, “I don’t remember” rather than guessing and getting it wrong. The more consistent you are, the stronger your claim will be.
Posting on Social Media
Social media can be one of the biggest threats to your case. Insurance companies often check claimants’ Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts to find anything they can use to discredit you. Even an innocent photo or post can be twisted against you.
For example, if you claim you’re in pain but post a picture at a family gathering, they might argue that you’re not as injured as you say. Even a status update like “feeling better today” can be taken out of context. And it doesn’t matter if your profile is private; insurance companies have ways of accessing your posts.
To protect yourself, it’s best to stay off social media completely until your case is settled. Even liking or commenting on someone else’s post could be used against you.
Hiding Pre-Existing Conditions
Some people think that if they have an old injury, they shouldn’t mention it. That’s a huge mistake. If the insurance company finds out (and they usually do), they’ll assume you’re lying about everything and might deny your claim altogether.
But having a pre-existing condition doesn’t mean you can’t get compensation. If the accident made an old injury worse, you still have the right to seek damages. The key is to be honest from the start.
Your lawyer can argue that the accident aggravated your condition, which can still justify a payout. However, if you hide it and they catch you, it could destroy your case completely.
