Injury Claim Checklist for WA/OR Victims: Medical Care, Documentation, and the Biggest Early Mistakes to Avoid

If you have been injured due to the negligence of another person or entity, there are steps you can take and mistakes you should avoid in order to set you on the best path when seeking compensation for your damages.

Medical Care After You Have Suffered an Injury

Your health is the most important thing after you have been injured in a collision. Seeking medical attention for your injuries is important for your overall health and can help in a variety of ways:

• The immediate aftermath of the collision is the most crucial time as far as your health is concerned, and your injuries can get worse if they are not promptly treated.
• The insurance company may claim that you failed to mitigate your damages if you either did not seek timely medical help or did not follow all of the treatment recommendations that your providers have made.
• Understanding the full extent of your injuries helps ensure that you can present this evidence to support your claim for damages.

Documentation for Your Injury Claim

In order to pursue a claim for damages and to be compensated for your damages, you must be able to prove the extent of your injuries and damages. Accordingly, you should obtain and retain documentation related to your injuries. Such documentation and proof can include:

• Medical bills for treatment you received;
• Documentation showing missed time from work and your wages;
• Medical records for treatment you received; and
• Repair bills for damage to your vehicle.

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Personal Injury Claim

What you do in the days after you have been injured can impact your personal injury claim overall. Specifically, you should aware of the following potential mistakes and pitfalls:

• Speaking to the negligent party’s insurance company: The insurance company for the negligent party will likely try to contact you to take a recorded statement. You do not have to agree to this. They may also try to get you to talk about your injuries and may even pressure you to settle your injury claim right away.
• Talking publicly about the collision: You should avoid making posts on social media about the collision and your injuries.You should always assume that the insurance company will be able to gain access to whatever you post and use that information to their benefit.
• Accepting an early settlement offer: The insurance company may try to pressure you into accepting an early settlement immediately after the accident, well before you know the full extent of your injuries and damages.

Contact a Vancouver Personal Injury Law Firm

Dealing with the pitfalls and complications in the aftermath of a collision can be extremely overwhelming. The Vancouver personal injury lawyers at Schauermann Thayer represent clients in Washington and Oregon claims. Learn how we can help you by scheduling a free initial consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys. You can take the first step toward getting the legal help you need by visiting our website or calling us today at (360) 695-4244.