--- title: The Little Mistakes That Can Ruin a Legitimate Injury Claim description: Personal Injury Injury Claims Legal Claims Negligence Evidence Insurance Documentation Compensation Litigation Settlements canonical: https://time.com/branded-content/apg/the-little-mistakes-that-can-ruin-a-legitimate-injury-claim/ article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-07-15T23:41:11.928Z article:modified_time: 2026-07-13T20:27:17.432Z article:section: Branded Contributor Content og:title: The Little Mistakes That Can Ruin a Legitimate Injury Claim og:description: Personal Injury Injury Claims Legal Claims Negligence Evidence Insurance Documentation Compensation Litigation Settlements og:url: https://time.com/branded-content/apg/the-little-mistakes-that-can-ruin-a-legitimate-injury-claim/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa89fc3ed1a53d46/6a55495f399945d68d5e3034/ChatGPT_Image_Jun_25_2026_09_14_27_AM.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1536 og:image:height: 864 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Little Mistakes That Can Ruin a Legitimate Injury Claim twitter:description: Personal Injury Injury Claims Legal Claims Negligence Evidence Insurance Documentation Compensation Litigation Settlements twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa89fc3ed1a53d46/6a55495f399945d68d5e3034/ChatGPT_Image_Jun_25_2026_09_14_27_AM.png?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Little Mistakes That Can Ruin a Legitimate Injury Claim > Sponsored content. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  _When you’ve been hurt by someone else, you aren’t guaranteed remuneration, even if you file a claim right away. But you can help your situation by avoiding five little mistakes._ Each year, [tens of millions of people get treatment](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/accidental-injury.htm) for accidental injuries. Although some of those injuries aren’t blameworthy, such as wrenching a muscle while doing yardwork, others may be someone else’s fault. However, getting compensated for another person’s mistake — even if you’ve suffered greatly — is tougher than all those “hurt in an accident” commercials make it sound. In fact, some people with legitimate injury claims make small mistakes that can cost them. Instead of receiving remuneration for their injuries and related expenses, they may find themselves covering costs out of pocket that could have been avoided. Five of the most common errors that well-meaning potential injury litigants make are listed below. **1\. Waiting to get legal advice** After getting hurt, you may be confused and angry. You may also want to put the incident behind you quickly. As a result, your first instinct may be to avoid making contact with a lawyer. While understandable, your hesitation could make it more difficult for you to win a case later. Here’s the problem: A lawyer can give you the upfront advice you need to know, including how to best handle the first few days and weeks after your injury. For example, say you were bitten by a dog while walking in your California neighborhood. As DK Law, a personal injury firm, explains, you should [take some clear-cut steps](https://dklaw.com/learning-hub/faqs/dog-bite-injury/) after the dog bite accident to help strengthen your position from a legal standpoint. These include everything from getting detailed information about the dog’s vaccination records and health to documenting your physical and emotional condition. By speaking with a lawyer sooner, you may be better positioned to avoid some of the challenges that can arise from early missteps. Plus, a knowledgeable lawyer can give you a realistic idea of whether or not your injury claim is worth pursuing based on your experiences. **2\. Posting injury updates on social media** The world revolves around social media, but it’s generally a bad idea to post on your favorite social site after being injured by another person. Remember: Whatever you say can be used as evidence against you later. For instance, insurance companies can check claimants’ social media for discrepancies. They’re on the lookout for any posts or comments that might seem contradictory to an injury claim, such as a video of someone at the gym after supposedly being hurt in an accident caused by someone else. Even saying, “It’s okay, I’m fine” after being in a car crash may be unwise. Although you may feel okay due to a surge of adrenaline, you may be injured. Yet your post could be used against you by an insurance adjuster. **3\. Maintaining too few pieces of documentation** When you’ve been in an accident anywhere, you need to get medical treatment. That said, you also need to document what happened. Documentation is one of your best forms of evidence to prove your injury actually occurred. Having photos, videos and even witness statements can make your case much stronger. Additionally, all your documentation will help you remember what actually occurred. Otherwise, you could forget key aspects of your injury after weeks or months. If you’re someone who has trouble organizing information, enlist someone else to help you stay on top of all your injury data and proof. Be sure to keep copies of your medical records and paid receipts, too. The more evidence you can present, the higher your likelihood of making a strong case against another party. **4.Undervaluing or sidestepping medical treatment** Are you someone who would rather just “tough it out” when you get hurt? If you’ve been in an accident, make sure you get treated and diagnosed by a medical professional. Though you’ll probably have to pay upfront, the diagnosis may help support your claims. The same holds for attending all medical appointments as scheduled. The moment you stop seeing your doctor, physical therapist or specialist, you’re making it easier for an insurance company representative to say, “This person is obviously uninjured.” Certainly, it can be challenging to stay on top of medical bills. But it’s worth negotiating a payment plan (if necessary) rather than becoming an absentee patient. At the same time, be sure to take your medications as well. **5.Waiting too long to make a claim** All states have strict [statutes of limitation regarding personal injury](https://www.consumersafety.org/resources/statute-of-limitations/) claims. These statutes indicate the timeframe you must follow to file a claim. Consequently, you should always seek remuneration as quickly as you can to avoid losing your opportunity. This is another reason it may be worth considering speaking with a lawyer before talking to anyone else, including an insurance company representative. You need to know exactly how long your filing window is, even if you’re not sure you’re going to start a personal injury claim. Again, making a phone call or setting up a consultation doesn’t obligate you to move forward. However, it can help equip you with the information needed to make more informed decisions. When you’ve been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence — even if it wasn’t on purpose — you may be able to get restitution for your actual costs and perhaps pain and suffering. But you need to be pragmatic and thoughtful when it comes to your post-injury actions to reduce the risk of setbacks that might otherwise have been avoided. _The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, financial, medical, or professional advice. Readers should not rely solely on the content of this article and are encouraged to seek professional advice tailored to their specific circumstances. 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