3 Mistakes To Avoid After You Are Injured In A Car Accident
No one gets in their car and starts driving expecting to get in an accident. But when a car accident does occur, it can drastically change your life if you are injured. When you're hurt in an accident that you didn't cause and are not at fault for, you are entitled to a settlement that covers the cost of your medical bills, lost wages, and possibly money for pain and suffering. But how you react after you are injured in a car accident can make a big difference in your settlement amount. If you want the settlement you deserve after you are hurt in a car accident, avoid these common mistakes:
Neglecting to Seek Prompt Medical Care
After a car accident, prompt medical care is essential for both your recovery and your settlement. Medical records are often reviewed when determining an insurance settlement, so if you don't see a doctor or stop going to follow up appointments, there will not be a good record that shows the extent of your injuries. It is not enough to say that your back is hurt and hasn't been the same since the accident-- you need medical records to back up your claim.
Speaking Freely With the Other Driver's Insurance Company
Shortly after the accident, you will most likely be contacted by the other driver's insurance company and asked to make a statement. Doing so is a bad idea-- the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim is not on your side, and any statement that you make could potentially be twisted to try to assign partial blame for the accident on you so the insurance company does not have to pay out as much.
Not Hiring an Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes people make after being hurt in a car accident is not hiring an attorney as soon as possible. When you have an attorney working on your behalf, you don't have to have any contact with the other driver's insurance company and you can rest assured that you have a professional negotiating on your behalf to get you the best settlement possible.
A lot of people hurt in car accidents don't hire an attorney because they don't think that they can afford the fees. In reality, most personal injury lawyers who specialize in car accident injuries do not require a retainer or any type of upfront fee. Instead, they receive a percentage of your settlement, and there is no out-of-pocket cost for you.
For more information and legal advice for how to act after being involved in a car accident, contact a personal injury attorney, such as those at Randall A. Wolff & Associates, Ltd, as soon as possible.
