At Lowenthal & Abrams, PC, our skilled personal injury attorneys discover errors and omissions in legal paperwork all too often. Uncovering these red flags is a critical safeguard for both our professional standing and the success of your claim.

If you want to discover the most common red flags we see in legal paperwork, keep reading. You will learn how we identify and manage these inconsistencies early — before they jeopardize your compensation or lead to legal complications and settlement delays.

Missing or Late Filings

One common red flag we see in personal injury legal paperwork includes missing key deadlines. Whether it’s the 30-day window to answer discovery requests or Pennsylvania’s two-year statute of limitations to bring your lawsuit, these court-imposed deadlines are set in stone. Consistently late filings of motions or court documents indicate your attorney is negligent, and these actions can cause your case to be dismissed.

Misrepresented or Inaccurate Information

Documents containing misspelled names, incorrect accident details, or confusing injury descriptions in legal paperwork show a lack of attention to detail, but the red flags do not end there. Contradictory statements to insurers, exaggerated injuries, or discrepancies in medical records may indicate fraud. These issues can cause insurance companies to delay, deny, or investigate claims, or in the most serious cases, intentional fraud may lead to felony charges. The defense may argue that if a claimant lied about small details, they could also be lying about the entire incident. That is why it is essential to work with an attorney who will review all documents for accuracy before submission.

Unordered Medical Records

Unordered medical records are a major red flag in personal injury cases, often leading to delayed settlements, reduced claim value, or denials by insurers looking for inconsistencies or gaps in care. Whether your attorney requests medical documentation in-house, or uses an outside retrieval company, this evidence is crucial for proving damages.

For the best chance at maximum compensation, your medical documentation must create a clear, chronological narrative of your injury and treatment. Disorganized records can hide symptom progression, obscure causation between the accident and injuries, and damage your claim’s credibility.

Missing Signatures or Illegible Notes

Crucial documentation that is incomplete, has handwritten corrections, or lacks proper authorization signatures can delay a case, compromise its credibility, or lead to dismissal. Missing signatures and illegible notes in personal injury legal paperwork are significant red flags because accuracy is vital to your lawsuit. Even minor errors, such as missing timestamps or unreadable doctor handwriting, allow insurance companies to dispute the severity of injuries and lower settlement offers.

Avoid Common Red Flags We See in Legal Paperwork and Reach Out

If your attorney fails to keep you informed, ignores important documentation, or does not file documents within the statute of limitations, it is a clear red flag you do not want to ignore. Beyond negligence, these actions may signal legal malpractice in addition to the issues created by the paperwork itself.

Our team of dedicated legal advocates at Lowenthal & Abrams, PC, prioritizes efficiency, and with medical professionals on staff to assist with paperwork, we handle our clients’ cases properly the first time. Reach out to our office today to find out why.