The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Filing Personal Injury Claims
Filing a personal injury claim? Discover the most common mistakes accident victims make and how to protect your right to compensation.
- September 24, 2022
- By McCoy & McCoy
*This article was originally published in 2022 and has been updated in July 2026 to include current Connecticut law, additional legal guidance, and answers to common questions about filing personal injury claims.
When people make personal injury claims, even a small mistake could significantly impact the outcome of their case. Because of that, it is imperative that you understand how to handle a personal injury claim and what kinds of errors could be significantly detrimental to your compensation. With careful thought and the right information, you can reduce your risk of losing compensation in a personal injury lawsuit due to mistakes.
That not only means better compensation but also an easier case and a faster resolution. Naturally, those are all things you will want to consider because they can make your case less stressful. Additionally, when you hire a Connecticut personal injury lawyer, they can help you get the fair and just compensation you deserve so that you can move forward with your life. Here are three of the most common areas where mistakes are made when trying to understand how to file a personal injury claim.
1. Not Working With an Injury Lawyer
Deciding not to work with a personal injury lawyer is one of the biggest mistakes someone can make in a personal injury case. Suppose you are considering negotiating with the other party yourself or simply working with an insurance company to obtain a settlement. In that case, you could be losing out on thousands of dollars. That could leave you responsible for a lot of your own medical bills and any ongoing care you may need due to your injuries.
Sometimes, people choose to handle their personal injury claims themselves to avoid attorney fees. However, by not working with a personal injury attorney, you could end up losing far more than the attorney’s fee. Why take that risk when you could have a significantly higher level of compensation by letting an attorney help you file any personal injury claims you have?
2. Not Seeking Medical Care
Even if you feel like you are not seriously injured at the time of your accident, make sure you seek out medical care. Some personal injury issues may not show up for a few days or even a few weeks. But if you see a doctor soon after your accident, you have it on record that you sought medical care. Then, when you follow up later because symptoms appear or worsen, you will have a paper trail linking those symptoms to the accident itself.
When you do not seek out medical care and then make a claim for injuries, it can appear that those injuries were not tied to the original incident. The other party (and their attorney and insurance company) are likely going to make the argument that they did not cause your injuries and that you would have sought medical care sooner if you had been injured at the time. Even if that is not the case, it can be hard to claim serious injuries or ongoing problems if you never went to the doctor for them.
3. Speaking to Insurance Representatives Without Consulting a Lawyer
The other party’s insurance company will likely offer you a settlement, especially if they know that their client is likely at fault. The goal of that settlement is to stop you from working with a personal injury lawyer in an attempt to receive a much higher level of compensation than they are offering. If you accept their offer, you will be unable to file personal injury claims regarding that incident in the future. This is another huge personal injury lawsuit mistake people make, and it can be easily avoided.
Another reason you do not want to speak with insurance representatives before speaking with a personal injury attorney is that personal injury claims can be jeopardized if you accidentally say something the other party can use against you. For example, if you admit partial fault in the incident, that could significantly reduce the amount of compensation you could receive. That will harm your case, and in some circumstances, it may mean that you suddenly do not have a viable case anymore at all.
Work With a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney Today
Avoid the risks of making a mistake when filing personal injury claims. Instead of handling the case on your own, contact a Connecticut accident lawyer at McCoy & McCoy to set up a free consultation. By doing that, you will have trusted personal injury attorneys on your side, so you can navigate the potential issues that may come up with your personal injury claim. You will have more peace of mind knowing that trusted, experienced professionals are working with you to provide the best possible resolution to your case.
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