There is a lot to think about in the immediate aftermath of a car crash. First and foremost, of course, is the need to get medical care. Your health is absolutely the most important thing to concern yourself with after an accident.
Because of everything that may be on your mind following a crash, it can be easy to make common mistakes that could impact your ability to be properly compensated for your injuries and their ongoing impact on your life. Let’s take a look at 10 mistakes you should avoid.
- Not getting medical care. Yes, we have already mentioned the need to get medical care right away. But we reiterate it here because medical records can be important to settlement negotiations and/or court cases. Don’t skip this step.
- Not following the medical advice you receive. You will do yourself harm—both in terms of your recovery and in terms of collecting damages—if you ignore your doctor’s advice following an accident.
- Not calling the police. Some people would really prefer not to get law enforcement involved if it can be avoided. But just like medical records, police records related to the accident can be important to your ability to pursue appropriate compensation.
- Not taking photos of the accident scene. If you are physically able, you should try to record details of the accident scene with your phone’s camera so that you have a visual record.
- Posting about the accident on social media. Yes, we just suggested you take photos of the accident scene. However, you should not post pictures or comment about the accident on social media. You do not want to make any public statements about what happened because they could be misinterpreted and used against you.
- Not getting contact information for witnesses. Again, if you are physically able, you should try to acquire contact information for any witnesses who are on the scene.
- Trusting that an insurance company has your best interest in mind. Remember, insurance companies are for-profit businesses. As such, they are hoping to pay out as little as possible.
- Accepting a quick settlement. An insurance company may try to tempt you with an offer to write you a check right away. Companies that do this are likely hoping you will accept fast money instead of more money. That initial offer will almost certainly be a lowball effort to close the claim inexpensively.
- Not talking with an experienced personal injury attorney. Your best path toward a fair settlement is to hire a personal injury lawyer who can investigate the crash, negotiate with the insurance company, and, if necessary, argue the case in court.
- Waiting too long to file a lawsuit. There are limits to how long you can wait to file a lawsuit known as the statute of limitations. That should be reason enough to encourage you not to wait. But there are additional reasons to consider. For example, the longer you wait, the less reliable witness testimony may be. It is also possible that key evidence will be lost or will deteriorate.
You Can Afford an Attorney After an Accident
You might be thinking that there is simply no way you can afford to have a lawyer work on your behalf after an accident. But in truth, you can.
That is because personal injury attorneys handle these kinds of cases on a contingency basis. That means they don’t get paid unless they win. So your lawyer will be motivated to help you for two key reasons: first, it is the right thing to do; second, they make money when you are appropriately compensated for your injuries.
If You Have Been Injured in a Car Crash, Contact Our Attorneys Right Away
The attorneys of Griffen & Stevens Law Firm are skilled negotiators and litigators. They will work vigorously to ensure you receive a fair settlement after you have been injured in a car accident. Contact us right away to discuss your case and then let us get to work on your behalf.
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