3 Ways To Maximize The Value Of Your Personal Injury Claim

March 15, 2019

You’ve been involved in an accident and are desperate for relief. Your personal injury claim could lead to significant damages, but only if approached strategically. Insurance companies are notoriously adept at securing the lowest possible payouts. Adjusters will readily take advantage of missing evidence, verbal admissions, and your general lack of knowledge. A thorough understanding of the factors that impact your claim can help you prepare accordingly.

Your attorney may play a key role in securing the best possible personal injury outcome, but your efforts also count. Below, we’ve outlined key steps you can take to ensure that you emerge with a favorable case resolution:

1. Take Pictures

The more photos you take in the immediate aftermath of your accident, the better. As the cliche states, a picture is worth 1,000 words. Your memory may not be entirely accurate after the accident, but photos offer irrefutable proof of the damage you incurred and the circumstances that led to your current suffering. After a car crash, for example, you should take pictures of your vehicle and the other driver’s vehicle. You’ll also want pictures of the surrounding area. Clues evident in these images could support your stated version of events.

If you’ve suffered any injuries, document them with multiple photos — even if they seem minor. Seemingly small injuries could be indicative of bigger problems. By documenting these issues on the day of the accident, you can prove that your symptoms are directly attributable to the crash and not prompted by other circumstances.

2. Be a Good Historian

Transparency is critical as you discuss your legal situation with your attorney. There is no room for shame or embarrassment in personal injury law; your attorney cannot effectively represent you unless you provide an accurate and thorough overview of your situation. Mention key injuries you’ve suffered in the past, along with any other accidents you’ve been involved in. Attorney Rhett Gross explains that this information helps lawyers formulate the most effective legal strategy.

Don’t succumb to the temptation to lessen the impact of your injury as you meet with your attorney. While this urge is understandable, every detail is critical to obtaining the best possible recovery. Mention all symptoms and their severity — even those you’d normally minimize in conversations with friends or family members.

While making light of your accident-related injuries can harm your case, the opposite is also true. Avoid exaggerating your symptoms, as insurance companies will use your embellishments to make you seem less believable.

3. Limit Social Media Activity

The less you post on Facebook or Instagram in the aftermath of your injury, the better. Yes, it feels good to vent about difficult situations, but anything you post online can and will eventually be used against you. Even seemingly innocuous photos or comments could destroy your case. Rhett Gross offers an excellent example: if insurance adjusters obtain images of you merely sitting on your bike after an accident, they may use these photos to discredit your claim. Changing your settings to private may help, but this approach won’t prevent all social media disasters. When in doubt, don’t post at all.

Gross and Schuster and Your Personal Injury Case
If you’ve been involved in an accident, you cannot afford to go it alone. With proper legal representation, you can avoid critical mistakes and maximize your recovery. You deserve support from an experienced and highly trusted personal injury attorney. The Gross & Schuster, P.A. team is happy to guide you every step of the way. Reach out at your earliest convenience to get started with a case consultation.