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Mistakes That Can Harm Your Personal Injury Lawsuit in Illinois

Mistakes That Can Harm Your Lawsuit – What You Should Know to Protect Your Legal Rights

Personal injury lawsuits provide a way for injured victims to pursue compensation when they have suffered harm because of another’s negligent conduct.  However, when pursuing legal action, accident victims should know that their life becomes an open book.  Insurance companies and defense attorneys will do anything they can to help minimize the amount of compensation an injured victim is entitled to, even seeking to dismiss lawsuits when a victim rightfully deserves compensation. 

Individuals involved in a lawsuit or wishing to pursue legal action should avoid common mistakes that can significantly harm their ability to pursue and seek compensation for their injuries.  Examples of some of these mistakes include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: 

  • Lying (even if the lie seems minuscule);
  • Waiting too long to file a lawsuit when the deadline has passed;
  • Signing a document that prevents an individual from pursuing legal action;
  • Posting information about a lawsuit on social media applications, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, among others;
  • Failing to preserve evidence, such as photographs from an accident scene, or communications about injuries shared in text messages, emails, letters, phone calls, and voicemails;
  • Failing to seek prompt medical treatment and follow the instructions of a medical provider;
  • A victim’s failure to inform his or her attorney about medical treatment; and
  • Speaking directly with an insurance agent about injuries before seeking the advice of an attorney. 

Unless a person is an attorney, he or she may not fully understand how a lawsuit can be negatively affected by something as simple as posting a picture on Facebook.  Additionally, discussing a lawsuit with individuals other than one’s attorney can harm the victim’s ability to successfully pursue a lawsuit. 

Overall, a rule of thumb for anyone wishing to file a lawsuit, or who has already filed a lawsuit, is to ask questions only of the attorney and follow the attorney’s instructions.  When one simple mistake can prevent an injured victim from obtaining compensation he or she rightfully deserves, it is best to be cautious and avoid sharing details of a potential lawsuit outside the realm of the attorney-client relationship.

INJURED? CALL STEIN SHULMAN, LLC FOR YOUR INSTANT CASE ANALYSIS

Stein & Shulman, LLC has over 45 years of combined experienced in Illinois Accident & Personal Injury Law. You can receive a free and instant case review by calling our office at 312.422.0500.

Stein & Shulman, LLC
134 N LaSalle St, #820
Chicago, IL 60602
312.422.0500
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