If you have been involved in a car accident in New Jersey, you may experience a variety of injuries. As a general rule, the person who causes the crash to occur is liable for paying any medical bills that you have incurred. However, there are several mistakes that you could make that might hinder your ability to obtain a favorable outcome.

Don’t downplay the severity of your injuries

It’s almost never in your best interest to say that you are not hurt in the immediate aftermath of a crash. This is partially because you don’t really know if this is true or not. However, downplaying the severity of your injuries may provide the defendant with an opening to get a personal injury lawsuit dismissed. At a minimum, it may make it harder to prove that the crash was the proximate cause of a concussion, muscle strain or internal bleed.

Don’t wait too long to take action

You have a time limit from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. In some cases, you’ll have more time to file depending on the circumstances of your case. For example, if you didn’t immediately realize that you were hurt in the crash, the statute of limitation may be extended by several weeks. It’s also important that you seek medical care in a timely manner to make it easier to prove that you were hurt because of a defendant’s reckless actions.

If you are a motor vehicle accident victim, it’s important to seek medical attention as quickly as possible. It’s also important to speak with your insurance company no more than 24 hours after the accident.