Mitigation

If you decide not to take any steps to reduce the amount of damages you suffered, the total amount of the award you receive from the court will be reduced by the sum that you would have received if you had taken the mitigating action.

Take, for instance, the scenario in which you sustain injuries in a car crash that prevent you from returning to your job. You would not be making reasonable efforts to mitigate your damages if you turned down a low-paying clerical job that required less physical exertion but was less demanding physically. Your damages for lost wages will be reduced by the amount that you would have earned if you had taken that job if your case goes to trial. 

The medical field makes use of the same fundamental ideas as other fields of study. It is possible that you will not be able to get all of your medical expenses paid if your condition deteriorates and you do not attend your scheduled medical appointments or continue with the treatment that has been recommended to you.

It is always a good idea for someone who has been hurt in a personal injury case to not only see a doctor initially but also go back to get additional recommended treatment. When you mitigate the effects of an accident, you not only prevent any potential problems from occurring, but you also receive helpful medical records that detail how well you are recovering from the accident.