Have You Been Injured?: 3 Common DON'Ts To Avoid Following The Injury

Immediately following an injury, it can be difficult to make decisions that will benefit you in the long run. While it may be difficult, it's not impossible, and it's best that you understand all of your rights following an injury and what steps you should take to further your case. Below are three common DON'Ts associated with personal injuries and how to act in your best interests instead.

Don't Shrug Off the Injury

If the injury you've experienced was due to the negligence or fault of a family member or friend, it can be easy to downplay the injury, not wanting to cause issues. This can limit your odds later on if the medical bills as a result of the injury become too much to handle, or the injury is worse than you thought.

It's common to go into shock following an injury, so it's important that you realize the injuries can worsen over the next few days. By shrugging off the injury, you're showing the person who played a hand that you don't intend to file with their insurance company or sue, and this can hurt you later if they testify to this fact.

Don't Admit Guilt

When dealing with personal injury suits, states fall into one of the two categories: comparative negligence law or contributive negligence law. Depending on which state you reside in, admitting guilt following the injury can result in no compensation whatsoever for your injury and the resulting consequences.

Following an accident or injury, it's best to swap information with all involved, and if applicable, contact the police to file a report. You may also be required to contact your own insurance company, especially if it was an auto accident. After seeking immediate medical treatment, contact a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss the details of your case and the options available to you.

Don't Forgo Legal Advice

As mentioned above, getting injured as a result of a friend or family member's negligence can result in an avoidance of the issue. You don't want to step on any toes or cause problems. That, however, can leave you financially responsible for thousands of dollars in medical bills and unable to provide for yourself.

Contacting a lawyer is protecting your best interests. You may not want to step on toes or come across too aggressively to the guilty party, but you have to do what's right for yourself. Contact a personal injury attorney to make sure you are not taken advantage of.