Top 5 Biggest Mistakes People Make After an Accident

After an accident or injury, most people are not thinking about legal strategy. They are focused on their health, bills, family, and trying to get life back to normal. Unfortunately, small mistakes made early on can have a major impact later.

I’m sharing five of the most common mistakes I see clients make and the questions I hear most often.

FAQ #1: When Should I Start Documenting My Injuries After an Accident?

One of the biggest mistakes people make is failing to document what happened early on. Details matter and memories of those details disappear with the passage of time. Waiting too long can make it harder to gather evidence, locate witnesses, and protect your rights. Surveillance footage can disappear, accident scenes change, and important deadlines can pass. Don’t throw things away. Keep copies of medical records, receipts, missed work information, and any communication with insurance companies. Even small details that may seem unimportant at the time can become valuable evidence later. Document everything as soon as you can, and don’t throw things away.

FAQ #2: Should I Talk to the Insurance Company Before Calling a Lawyer?

The goal of the insurance company is often to minimize payouts. Giving a recorded statement or accepting a quick settlement before understanding the full extent of your injuries can be hurtful to the outcome of your case, or even end your case. If the insurance company wants to speak with you, retain a lawyer to represent you before you have that call.

FAQ #3: Can Social Media Hurt My Personal Injury Case?

Posting on social media can absolutely harm the value of your case, and sometimes even your ability to win your case at all. Photos, comments, videos, and even simple status updates can be used against you. Something as innocent as posting a smiling picture at dinner may be twisted to suggest you are not injured. It is always safest to limit social media activity during a case and be very intentional about what you post if you do end up deciding to post. Think about it with the expectation that anything you post can be shared with a jury (even if your profile is private).

FAQ #4: How Soon Should I See a Doctor After an Accident?

Delaying treatment is never a good idea. Florida statutes require car crash victims to present for treatment within a certain time in order to be eligible for insurance benefits. Even if you are hopeful that you will improve after suffering an injury, medical attention is necessary to identify problems that only get worse if you wait. Delaying your treatment after an injury creates problems not only for your health but also for your legal claim. When insurance companies see a delay in treatment, or gaps in treatment, they interpret that to mean the injuries were not serious or were caused by something else. Juries can question the seriousness of your injury if you delay in seeking medical treatment. Failing to seek medical attention or delaying treatment is a big mistake and can seriously harm the value of your case.

FAQ #5: How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?

The most important thing you can do after an injury is protect yourself early. Rest assured, the insurance company, or trucking company, or hospital risk manager is already working to defeat or minimize your claim. Many people are surprised to learn that they can hire a top plaintiff’s personal injury attorney without paying any money out of pocket. This is because plaintiff’s personal injury lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis rather than an hourly fee. That means at the beginning of the case you sign a written agreement to pay an agreed-upon percentage of your recovery as a fee — there are no attorney’s fees unless money is recovered for you. Under a contingency fee, you pay nothing up front; when you do win, we take the agreed-upon portion of the amount recovered. Everything is transparent through the entire process.

A simple phone call after suffering an injury can make all the difference for you and your case. If you or a loved one has been injured or worse, and you need help, contact me today. I am always happy to answer your questions!