Personal injury – whether through slip and fall, auto accident or medical malpractice – can be devastating. When the injury is caused by another party’s reckless or negligent actions or inaction, it is important that you file a personal injury claim to help pay for your treatment costs as well as other damages.
However, to file your personal injury claim and win the compensation you deserve, you need to adhere to the rules. There are certain mistakes that can jeopardize your personal injury claim. Here are some of them:
Failing to file your claim in time
Like most states, New Jersey has a time limit within which injured parties must report their injuries and file their personal injury claim against the at-fault parties. All injury victims have two years from the date of their injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party in New Jersey. This is known as the statute of limitations. You risk having your claim thrown out if you miss this deadline.
Falsifying your injuries
Whether it is intentional or otherwise, exaggerating or lying about your personal injury claim either to the doctor or the court is a sure way of losing your case. Besides resulting in the dismissal of your case, falsifying information to the insurance adjuster, fibbing about your injury treatment costs or simply stretching the truth about your injuries can also land you trouble with the law. Every claim is usually subjected to a thorough investigation, and the truth will catch up with you eventually. You are better off keeping it honest from the onset. And one of the things you can do to achieve this is document your injury as soon it happens should you can keep your story consistent.
If you are injured in an accident, it is important that you know the do’s and don’ts when pursuing your personal injury claim.