Common Personal Injury Claim Mistakes in Ontario

So you’ve just been in an accident and you find yourself completely overwhelmed. A lot is going on, and there are so many things that you need to do. Amidst the chaos, here are some important mistakes you need to avoid.

Mistake Number One – Not Getting Medical Attention

The first thing you want to do when you have suffered a personal injury is get medical attention. If you have an ache or pain, and it lasts for more than 24 hours, go to the doctor. Not getting medical attention is one of the easiest ways to screw up your case. If you wait until two months after the accident the insurance company is going to say that something else happened, and that makes it much more difficult to connect your injury directly to the accident.

Mistake Number Two – Not Taking Control of Your Medical Recovery

So you go to your doctor and they recommend physiotherapy, but after a few months you notice that the physiotherapy is no longer helping. Be proactive about your recovery. If a treatment isn’t working, go back to your doctor to ask about your other options. Your doctor won’t know further diagnostics are needed if you don’t tell them that your treatment isn’t working. Especially in Ontario, where doctors are pressed for time, it’s often the squeaky wheel that gets the oil. Be persistent.

Mistake Number Three – Not Giving Notice

One of the big issues with slips and falls on private or municipal property is that most people don’t know that they have to give notice. Right after you have had a slip and fall let the property owner know within 10 days. On municipal property, this process can be as easy as dropping of a letter at City Hall to the clerk of the city. If you’re not sure which property your fall is designated under (street, parking lot, side walk) let them all know just in case. People often lose their case if this step hasn’t been taken.

Mistake Number Four – Taking a Settlement Before You Know the Full Extent of Your Injuries

Often with a low-grade injury your insurance company will contact you after the 12-month mark and ask you to settle. Before you accept, speak with a personal injury lawyer about your options. Once you’ve settled, you’ve signed an agreement saying you won’t go back on the defendant, and it is very hard to re-open a case. This is a major issue because if you settle too soon, you may not know the full extent of your injuries and therefore not be compensated for as much as you need.

For more information watch Brenda Hollingsworth discuss the common personal injury mistakes on CTV Morning Live.

Want to avoid these, and any other, personal injury mistakes? Contact the personal injury lawyers at Auger Hollingsworth at 613-233-4529 for a free consultation.