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February 15, 2022
If you’ve suffered harm from an accident or injury and somebody else may be legally responsible for that harm, you may be entitled to legal compensation. Your first step to getting that compensation is filing a personal injury claim.
Personal injury is the legal term used to describe any case that involves injury to your body, mind, or emotions — and if you’re the plaintiff, you may be able to recover compensatory damages, either economic or non-economic, for what you’ve endured.
However, in order to make sure you get the compensation you deserve, it’s important that you follow all the right steps and avoid making mistakes before or during the claim filing process. To cue you in on what you should be aware of, here are five common mistakes to avoid while filing your personal injury case in South Carolina.
Personal injury lawsuits are meant to protect you and your future — but if you miss any key components in the process, you may risk not getting the compensation you deserve. Here’s a list of five common mistakes you should avoid during your personal injury case in South Carolina.
Whether you end up in court or at a settlement table, the truth of your case only matters to the extent in which you can prove it — and obtaining a police report is the critical first step in doing so.
People’s viewpoints on the accident can change once they’ve had time to reflect or be advised on the situation. This is why it’s important to have a police officer document the situation right away. The evidence found in that report will help you prove your case. So don’t forget to call or choose not to call the police, and don’t let the defendant talk you out of it either.
As time goes by, witnesses’ memories fade and change. In fact, the mere passage of time can be used to discredit a witness’s testimony in court, even if they can still recount it all perfectly. On top of that, sometimes witnesses will move out of town or be difficult to locate.
The bottom line here? Speak to witnesses and get their statements as soon as possible. Their testimonies can help preserve and prove the important details of your claim, further ensuring that you receive the amount of compensation you’re entitled to.
When it comes to going to the doctor to treat your injury, there are a few mistakes that can be made.
In a personal injury case, your doctor’s diagnosis, treatment plan, and recommendations are just as important as the police report. You need to get an honest and professional medical evaluation, obtain documentation of what’s wrong and what it will take to heal, and follow through with it all. Otherwise, your credibility can suffer and the value of your claim can drop significantly.
While you’re in the midst of a personal injury claim, insurance companies will do everything they can to discredit your claim — even monitor your social media profiles. If you post anything that could affect the credibility of your testimony and claim, they can and will use it against you.
Say, for instance, you were injured in a car accident, and two days later you post a photo of yourself drinking alcohol at a party. Even if the party occurred long before or long after your accident, they could find a way to use it against you and deny or discredit your claim. Therefore, it’s best to refrain from any type of posting while your case is pending.
If you want to file a personal injury lawsuit in South Carolina, you need to do it as quickly as possible. The sooner, the better.
There’s a time limit in every state to file, known as the statute of limitations. In South Carolina, the statute of limitations is generally two to three years — with the clock starting on the day of your incident. And since it can take time to gather documentation and prepare your case, it’s better to start the process early.
Those five mistakes can significantly reduce your ability to get full compensation for what you’ve suffered — but perhaps the biggest mistake of all is not working with a Columbia, SC lawyer.
While you can choose to legally represent yourself, the process will go much smoother if you have a lawyer to help you. Working with an experienced lawyer in Columbia, SC gives you a knowledgeable professional to advocate for your needs and maximize your compensation. And they’ll make sure you don’t commit any of these five common personal injury case mistakes. Ready to pursue your personal injury suit? Trust Bernstein & Berstein to help you get the compensation you’re entitled to. We’re experienced in claims just like yours and are ready to earn you the peace and relief you need after your experience. Contact our firm today.
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