Mistakes That Hurt Your Personal Injury Claim

If you’ve been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another, you need an experienced, trusted and knowledgeable injury attorney to handle your personal injury claim. Why? Well there are some common mistakes that can hurt your personal injury claim making it, so you don’t receive fair compensation. Don’t let that happen to you! Contact the experienced attorneys of Parke Gordon Law Firm to handle your case.

The following are some common ways to hurt your personal injury claim:

1. Representing Yourself

To receive the most compensation for your personal injury claim you must know and understand the law. This requires in-depth knowledge and experience with legal doctrines, insurance contracts, and regulations, as well as courtroom procedures. Without knowledge of these things, a person cannot plan and structure their case for proper handling. It is probable that you will do or say something that will sink your injury claim.

Here are a few real examples of cases Parke Gordon Law Firm has settled that illustrates how our law firm can maximize compensation for your personal injury case.

Case 1: Alone the client would receive $7,000. With Parke Gordon, the client would receive $29,000.

Case 2: Working alone the client would receive $13,000. Working with Parke Gordon, the client would receive $40,000 in compensation.

Case 3: On their own, the client would receive $30,000. With the help of Parke Gordon, the client would receive $102,000.

Case 4: Without an attorney, the client would receive $10,000. Parke Gordon was able to get $450,000 in compensation.

2. Failing to Seek Medical Treatment

If an injury from an accident goes untreated by a medical professional, a jury will then have to decide if the injury was incurred from the accident. Immediately after an accident, seek medical treatment. This will also provide you with proper documentation such as medical records that can later help your case.

3. Not Hiring an Injury Lawyer

After an accident, the first few days are critical. Whether it was a car accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall injury, dog bite injury, or other injuries, you will most likely be bombarded by calls from insurance companies and investigators. It is likely that you will say or do something that can hurt your case. Calling a personal injury attorney right away and have your attorney handle these matters. That will allow you to concentrate on healing and getting back on your feet.

4. Failing to Gather Evidence

In any legal claim, the evidence is crucial. As time passes, evidence fades and the memories of witnesses can become twisted. Preserve as much evidence as early as possible to help your case. Helpful evidence includes taking photos of the accident scene, and visible injuries. Take photos of your injuries right away and then keep taking pictures periodically as your treatment progresses. Gather the names and phone number of any eyewitnesses to your accident.

5. Giving a Written Statement or Recorded Interview to the Insurance Company

Insurance adjusters are trained to get people to agree to a quick settlement. That way, they don’t have to pay the full value of your claim. One of the first things an insurance adjuster will do is attempt to get a written or recorded statement from the drivers and injured claimants. Insurance adjusters will often use a recorded statement to twist the words of a client as the claim progresses. Do not give any sort of written or recorded statement or sign anything before talking with your attorney. Doing so can permanently harm your case.

6. Posting About Your Accident on Social Media

Anything you post about your accident on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, can be used against you. Any posting on social networks might be requested by other attorneys working against you. It is best to keep everything off the Internet and keep all comments between you and your lawyer.

7. Agreeing to Sign a Release or Medical Authorization Form

Unless you know exactly what you are signing, don’t sign. You could be signing a release or waiving your claims. Frequently, an insurance adjuster will ask you to sign a medical authorization form granting them access to your medical records. No matter what the adjuster says, don’t do it. In addition, do not sign any documents which have any language releasing your claims. Doing so could cause you to lose your rights forever.

8. Failing to Communicate with Your Lawyer

Remember when you hire an attorney from Parke Gordon Law Firm, you and your lawyer are a team. Communicate with your personal injury attorney to make your case go as smoothly as possible. Failing to cooperate with your attorney can waste valuable time and cause your case to fail.

9. Lying or Hiding Evidence

Right from the start, let your attorney know about your medical history or any previous accident claims. This way, your attorney can plan for those matters and be prepared to address them should need to be.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney at Parke Gordon Law Firm

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Mat Parke handle personal injury claims for clients in Salem, Oregon and other surrounding areas. Personal injury attorneys, Mat Parke and Brent Gordon, concentrate their practice on accident and injury cases, including car accidents, semi truck accidents, and wrongful death cases. The Parke Gordon Law Office has years of experience holding insurance companies responsible for damages caused by their customers and obtaining impressive settlements for the law firm's clients.

Contact a personal injury attorney in Salem today by calling our law office at (971) 915-4878. We're here to help take the stress out of your claim. Let us fight the insurance company for you.