Despite what insurance companies might have you believe, personal injury cases can be legally complex and serious legal matters. When individuals seek to recover financial compensation without the assistance of a qualified personal injury attorney, they are putting themselves and their families at risk. Individuals who have been injured in car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall accidents, or any other kind of accident must be careful to avoid common mistakes throughout the personal injury process. Personal injury recovery starts the moment after an accident, even before the formal legal process begins.
Our personal injury lawyers will be reviewing common mistakes to avoid when dealing with insurance providers, seeking medical attention, and working with local Mercer County attorneys.
Dealing with Insurance Companies Within Mercer County, NJ Personal Injury Claims
The majority of personal injury claims in New Jersey are brought against insurance providers for the at fault party. This means that the bulk of the interactions your Mercer County personal injury attorneys will be having will be with an insurance company rather than the at fault entity. Here are some common errors made by individuals who deal with insurance companies on their own:
- Speaking to insurance companies without an attorney – before even beginning your interaction with an insurance provider, it is recommended to at least have a consultation with a qualified Mercer County PI lawyer
- Making on the record statements without an attorney – just like you should never answer questions in a criminal defense situation without a lawyer, you should avoid making unnecessary statements
- Filing a personal injury claim without an attorney – when victims try to recover damages through a personal injury claim on their own, they are going against a company with decades of legal experience and well funded resources. This often ends poorly
- Accepting a low-ball, lump sum settlement – along those lines, we see many families accepting much less than they should due to a lack of understanding of the value of their claim
Princeton Personal Injury Lawyers Discuss Importance of Doctor’s
Another key aspect of personal injury claims is proving the nature and extent of your injuries. Our Princeton personal injury lawyers have seen clients attempt to prove their injuries with pictures and verbal testimony. However, there is no substitute for getting a formal diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. When you have been injured in an accident, be sure to avoid these mistakes:
- Failing to see a doctor in a timely manner – the sooner you get to a doctor, the stronger the connection between your accident and your injury. Insurance companies will claim that the injury may have been pre-existing or unrelated when victims wait too long
- Failing to adhere to doctor’s orders – similarly, victims are responsible for attempting to improve their medical situation by following doctor’s orders. If you are not improving medically, it could be argued that it is your own fault if you are not following the recommended treatment plan
- Not filing for personal injury claims in time – as a final note, personal injury claims must be filed within state mandated time frames known as statutes of limitations. Most PI claims must be filed within two (2) years of the injurious accident
Injured in an Accident? Contact our Hamilton Personal Injury Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
At Cohen & Riechelson, our team of qualified and experienced personal injury attorneys are proud to serve Mercer County communities such as Princeton, Trenton, Lawrence, New Brunswick, Hamilton, and all of Central New Jersey. Our firm has earned a reputation as offering high quality, ethical, and dynamic legal solutions to victims of injurious accidents. Rather than taking our word for it, feel free to review our many client testimonials from satisfied clients over the years. We are more than equipped to recover financial compensation through successful personal injury verdicts or settlements for even the most complex cases.
If you or a loved one has been injured an accident, please contact us online or through our Hamilton, NJ offices by calling (609) 528-2596 today for a free and confidential consultation.
