If you are injured due to the negligence or wrongdoing of a person or entity, it is important to know your rights and the best way to protect them. Virginia personal injury cases are particularly complicated and often involve several different parties.
How can I protect my Virginia personal injury claim?
There are numerous factors that can influence the results of a personal injury case and make it harder to win. In this post, we have summarized some common mistakes that could put your case in jeopardy. Call the Virginia Beach personal injury lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to schedule your free consultation and find out what course of action we recommend for your situation.
Posting About Your Accident on Social Media Platforms
Posting about your accident, and discussing your injuries on any social media platform is a bad idea. We understand the urge to share what happened with your friends and family, but, more often than not, social media posts come back to bite personal injury victims. Your post could potentially be used against you and even cost you money in the long run if the other party feels it was slanderous or defamatory.
Not Collecting Evidence
If you are hurt in a premises liability accident or a car accident, it is vital that you collect as much evidence, both photographic and physical, as you can from the scene. Get the contact details of any eyewitnesses that are willing to give a statement to investigators about what they saw.
Other forms of evidence that will help your case if collected promptly are:
- Photographs of the crash scene and any visible injuries
- Copies of your medical records starting from the day of your injury
- Obtain formal documentation from any physicians, nurses, or other medical professionals who treated you
- A copy of the Virginia police crash report
- Any receipts or bills associated with your injury and its treatment
Not Following Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan
During your post-accident recovery, you are going to have regular doctor appointments in order to track your progress. These appointments are extremely important because a doctor can identify potential problems before they arise which will help you avoid making a mistake that will cost you your case. Sticking to your treatment plan also shows that you have done everything possible to aid your recovery.
Failing to Seek Medical Care
If you are involved in an accident, it is vital that you seek prompt medical treatment, even if you think you are unharmed. If you delay or refuse medical treatment, the other party’s insurance carrier will use this against you when they defend their client’s liability in court. They will reason that if you really were seriously injured in the incident, you would have sought medical treatment right away.
Waiting to Hire an Attorney
Sadly, a lot of accident victims wait much too long before they hire a lawyer. This leads to multiple issues with things like witness statements and evidence. Virginia personal injury victims should hire a personal injury attorney as soon as they can. This will allow them to begin their investigation right away, giving you your best chance of recovering full and fair financial compensation.
Speak With a Qualified Virginia Personal Injury Lawyer Today
If you were hurt in a Virginia personal injury accident for which you were not to blame, the legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can help guide you through the claims process. Personal injury claims are famously complicated. You deserve to have knowledgeable and aggressive legal representation in order to ensure that you are treated fairly. Schedule a free consultation with the Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp by calling (833) 997-1774 or through the contact form on our website.