How to receive the best compensation result if you’ve been injured
Insurance companies don’t want you to know this, but there are things you can do to get the best compensation result possible. You just need to know a few insider secrets and have the right law firm on your side (take a look at TPIL’s five helpful tips for choosing your personal injury lawyer). Once you’ve chosen your legal team, you can be proactive about setting your case up for success.
Based on years of experience as Queensland’s largest independent specialist personal injury law firm, the TPIL team of experts have compiled their top tips for maximising your compensation.
Document everything.
Seek proper medical treatment and follow your doctor’s advice.
Unsurprisingly, insurance companies don’t want to pay you compensation. In fact, they’ll do everything possible to try and avoid it, or to minimise the payment. This will include examining how your injury was treated and by whom.
Ensure you seek medical treatment for your injury as soon as possible. Write down the date of the treatment and the name of the doctor. Each time you have a follow-up appointment, make another note of the relevant details.
It’s also vital you follow your doctor’s advice. If they recommend a particular specialist or type of treatment, follow their direction. You don’t want to give the insurance company any reason to accuse you of making things worse.
Calculate all the expenses of your injury.
If you’re missing income because you’re unable to work, you must document precisely how many hours of work you’ve missed. Then, you should also consider how that time off has impacted your long service, annual leave or sick leave accrual. If your career prospects are now different because of your injury, this will also be considered when negotiating a settlement figure.
These latter details will be harder to calculate on your own, however your personal injury lawyer will help guide you through the process. The important thing is writing it all down and providing as much detail as possible.
You should also keep a record of all medical expenses, including consultation fees, pharmacy purchases, taxis or transport costs, as well as time spent commuting or making phone calls to insurers, doctors or Medicare. It all helps to paint a more realistic picture of the cost of your injuries.
Did your injury cause other problems?
Aside from the physical scars, an injury can impact mental health, contributing to depression, anxiety and stress.
Your injury might also have an impact on your relationships with friends, family, your children or your partner. Consider the full impact of your injury and try to give as much detail to your lawyer as possible.
Always be honest.
Exaggerating your injuries will not do you any favours. Many people have attempted to play that card in court before, and it almost always backfires spectacularly. Then, you’re no longer considered a reliable or trustworthy person in the eyes of the court.
Instead, be honest about your injury and everything to do with your case.
You should also disclose any prior medical concerns or injuries. Again, it doesn’t look good in the courtroom when undisclosed health concerns are revealed (and they will be).
Stay off social media.
Social media applications like Facebook and Instagram might be fun to scroll, but that’s all you should be doing with them. Do not post any updates at all. Social media updates can be potentially damaging to your case.
Anything you post publicly might be used to discredit your character or your injury. So, it’s best to be cautious and stay offline until your case is settled.
Want to know more about how much compensation you might be eligible for? Try our compensation calculator. For more information, you can then call us on 1800 958 498 or contact@tpil.com.au
