Gary N. Gosanko Personal Injury Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Mistakes That Can Jeopardize Your Accident Case

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 by Gary N. Gosanko

Many times, injury or accident victims commit minor, unintentional mistakes that severely undermine, and sometimes completely derail, their personal injury claims. These common errors are often entirely avoidable if the victim follows a few simple instructions and rules.

As experienced accident lawyers in Seattle, we assist our clients by taking steps to protect their ability to receive speedy and appropriate settlements. We have found that some of the common mistakes that can endanger an accident case include:

Failure to seek prompt medical attention: Even if you believe your injuries to be minor, you must seek attention from a doctor as soon as possible following your accident. Not only will this prevent small injuries from growing into larger ones, but your doctor’s reports and documentation will help to prove your case in negotiations with the insurance company and, if necessary, in a court of law.

Not following medical instructions: If your doctor provides a course of treatment, or advises you to follow certain steps, you must follow these instructions. Otherwise, you allow the defendant in your personal injury claim to legally argue that the extent of your injuries is not entirely related to the incident itself, preventing you from receiving the best settlement.

Keeping details from your Seattle accident attorney: Disclose every aspect of your case to your Seattle accident lawyer. Since your attorney is the only one who can truly determine which aspects of your case are legally relevant, he or she must know all of the details. Furthermore, full disclosure prevents the defendant from surprising your attorney in court, which can severely hamper your case.

Settling without an attorney: Never sign any papers or agree to any insurance settlement without consulting an attorney.

These simple guidelines will prevent your case form being jeopardized unintentionally.

The Gosanko Law Firm
7513 S. E. 27th St.
Suite A
Mercer Island, WA 98040
1.888.544.3106

Posted at 15:00 PM

Topic: Personal Injury