Dealing with an injury caused by the actions of someone else is often difficult, especially when you miss time from work and are struggling to pay the bills and provide for your family.

Even though you are in desperate need of compensation from a personal injury lawsuit, you need to be careful about the actions you take after suffering an injury. There are certain things you do not want to do after an accident because they could hurt your chances of recovering fair compensation.

The experienced and trusted attorneys at Goldberg Finnegan can help guide you in the right direction after suffering an injury in a car accident, construction accident, slip and fall or any other type of accident. Below, learn more about some of the things not to do when filing a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland.

Not Telling the Truth or Exaggerating Your Injuries

One of the most important things you need to avoid is lying about or exaggerating your injuries, especially when talking to the experts working on the case. Even if your attorney has hired a doctor as an expert witness to testify on your behalf, you should not exaggerate your injuries. At the same time, you need to be truthful about your injuries when asked about them.

Aside from lying about your injuries, you should also never lie to the insurance company (yours or the at-fault’s insurer). Lying to the insurance company involved in the claim could cause your claim to be voided altogether and you might even face charges of insurance fraud.

Failing to Take Immediate Action

The biggest mistake many people make when filing a personal injury lawsuit is failing to take immediate action. There is a statute of limitations in place in Maryland that prevents people from filing a personal injury lawsuit after a certain date.

The law in Maryland gives you three years from the date the injury occurred to file your lawsuit. Waiting to see the doctor, speak to an attorney, or take other steps could make it harder to get your lawsuit filed within those three years.

Disregarding Medical Recommendations

Anyone injured in a car, truck, motorcycle or work-related accident should seek medical care immediately. Whether it is by calling 9-1-1 and being evaluated on the scene by first responders, or visiting a local emergency room, you need to seek medical care.

Once you have been cared for, you also need to follow the recommendations provided by the doctor. Take the prescription medication until told to stop, avoid certain physical activity, attend checkup appointments and take part in physical therapy.

Actively Using Social Media Platforms

Social media has its benefits. You can keep in touch with family members living across the country, old friends from high school and college, and follow your favorite actors, musicians, and more. But, it can also be a problem when filing a personal injury lawsuit.

Stop using social media if you are injured in an accident. You will likely want to discuss the accident, your injuries, and the person who caused the accident on social media. Doing so can hurt your claim immensely. Insurance adjusters are trained to find information online to use against you, that is why it is best to avoid social media until your case is resolved.

Signing Anything Without Legal Representation

It is highly recommended that you never sign any contract, release of liability form or any other legal document without first speaking to an attorney. The insurance companies involved in the accident that left you injured will do anything possible to get you to sign a settlement offer. It is possible that the settlement amount offered is much less than what an attorney can help you recover in a lawsuit.

Your attorney can help you understand why signing any legal document without it being reviewed can hurt your chances of receiving adequate compensation. The amount of money offered by an insurance company might not cover your full medical expenses, pain and suffering, and repair bills for property damage.

Contact Us to Discuss Your Legal Options

The Silver Spring personal injury attorneys at Goldberg Finnegan are trusted, experienced, and dedicated to fighting for the rights of our clients. We know what it takes to build a strong case as we try to get insurance companies to provide fair compensation.

Contact our offices today to schedule a free consultation. You do not have to settle for the first offer provided by the insurance company.