People who have a slip and fall case in Buffalo, New York might have a few questions about what to do in the early stages of a case. There are a couple critical mistakes to avoid after a slip and fall injury. If you’re not careful, your injury case — and your chances at receiving some sort of financial compensation — will be thrown out the window.
Don’t Delay in Getting Medical Treatment
It is important to understand that an injury case is you vs. the insurance company of the at-fault party. If you are injured because of a faulty handrail, you need to seek medical treatment right away. If you delay going to a doctor until, say, two weeks after your initial injury, then your claim will be challenged. The insurance company will see this gap in treatment and infer that you are not as injured as you claim to be.
It is also important that, once you have visited a doctor, you make sure you are following through with all necessary medical treatment afterward. Don’t skip appointments or neglect physical therapy. Once again, the insurance company will see these gaps and try to deny your personal injury claim.
Don’t Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company
As we’ve already established, the insurance company of the at-fault party is not your friend and will not do you any favors. In the event of a slip and fall case, the insurance company of the store or property where you were injured will try to contact you. They might ask for you to give a recorded statement that recounts the events of the accident from your perspective. While they may put on a helpful front, what they are actually trying to do is insinuate that you caused the accident, thereby voiding your personal injury claim. Anything you say can and will be used against you. It’s best not to provide them with a recorded statement of any type. All communications should be directed to your Buffalo personal injury attorney.
Don’t Delay in Hiring an Attorney
Which brings us to the third and most important mistake to avoid: don’t delay in hiring an attorney. Unlike the insurance company, your attorney is advocating for you. Contacting an attorney as soon as possible after the accident will give them ample time to build a successful case on your behalf and maximize your potential compensation. This includes gathering evidence from the accident scene and preparing for trial, if need be.
If you need help with your slip and fall injury case, contact Buffalo personal injury attorney Arthur Pressman today.
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