When you are involved in an accident, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed. With physical pain, the financial burden, and the emotional stress, one may feel like they are not getting relief from the situation.

But many of them find the process of filing a claim and getting fair compensation to be even more stressful than the recovery from the injury itself, due to the complex process and the huge amount of time it may take.

Sometimes, even after a judge has signed a release, the settlement may take time, leaving people wondering, “How long to get settlement check after signing release?” While that is a whole other issue, people often make errors that seriously affect their settlement amount.

This blog aims to explore the common mistakes that can delay and decrease your settlement check.

1. Delaying Medical Attention

If you have been thinking that medical attention is just for your health, you’re mistaken, because it also plays a very important role in getting your claim approved. Medical records often serve as the foundation for your claim by linking your injuries to the accident. The medical bills can also be used to determine how much you’ve spent on medical expenses.

When you delay a treatment, insurance companies and defense attorneys can use it to argue that the injuries were not caused by the accident. The court could also feel that your injuries are exaggerated, as immediate attention wasn’t given to them.

2. Not Providing the Necessary Documents

When it comes to any type of claims, evidence is the backbone. Without proper evidence, it will be difficult to prove your case. This is why neglecting to collect the required evidence and documents is a serious mistake that can delay your claim.

So, ensure that you keep all your medical records, police reports, and insurance details intact when filing your claim. Collecting more evidence, like photographs of the scene and witness statements, can be helpful for your claim.

By staying organized and giving your attorney all the required documents, you can easily speed up the process of settling your claim.

3. Talking With Insurance Companies on Your Own

From the moment of the accident, everything that you take can serve as a record to be used against you by the insurance companies. They will keep calling you to ask for details about the case, and you might end up telling them something that may weaken your claim. Which is why it is always best not to talk with them directly. And remember to always ask your attorney what you can tell them and what you cannot.

4. Missing Legal Deadlines

To ensure that evidence is delivered on time and to help protect the rights of both the plaintiff and defendant, there are timelines for you to meet when filing a claim. Every state has enforced a statute of limitations for that state, within which you will have to file your claim. By missing a timeline, it is highly likely that the court will dismiss your case or not consider your case as a priority. This is another mistake that can delay the settlement of your claim.

This is where attorneys play a major role. Since most victims are not aware of the timeline, getting the help of an attorney will help them file the claim within the said deadline.

5. Not Seeking Help from a Professional Attorney

Trying to handle a personal injury claim on your own is one mistake that can backfire. Without the help of an attorney, there are high chances of your missing out on important evidence, making mistakes in filing paperwork, failing to meet deadlines, or not being able to negotiate with insurance companies.

Just a single mistake can delay your claim. So, by hiring an attorney on time, you can ensure that your process is smooth.

Conclusion

Although some delays in your claim process are unavoidable, you can make the process smooth by following steps like maintaining proper records, collecting evidence, and getting advice from a professional attorney. This way, you can minimize the time of delay and get your settlement soon.