Avoid these common mistakes to preserve your ability to secure full and fair compensation
Although car accidents are a common occurrence, many people don’t know how to react if they are injured in an accident. They may make mistakes that will hurt their ability to secure full and fair compensation for their injuries. Here are the top 6 mistakes you will need to avoid if you want to win your claim and maximize your compensation.
Leaving the Scene of the Accident
It is actually illegal to leave the scene of any car accident where there has been an injury or damage to someone else’s property without first stopping and exchanging information with the other involved parties. Obviously, if you are hurt, you need to stop and get the name, contact information, and insurance information from the person who caused your car accident. Without this information, it will be impossible to secure compensation for your injuries.
Admitting Fault
If you say anything that could be construed as an admission of fault for the accident, this will really hurt your case for compensation. For example, don’t apologize to the other driver—if you didn’t cause the accident, you have nothing to apologize for. You should be especially careful when talking with insurance representatives.
Not Gathering Evidence at the Scene
Photographs of the scene of the accident are one of the best types of evidence you can have. They can help show how the accident happened and who is at fault. Whenever possible, try to take your photographs before the vehicles are moved from the positions they were in immediately after the accident. Be sure to get images of all points of impact as well as any relevant details from the scene such as tire marks or bushes that could obscure a driver’s view.
Not Seeing a Doctor
Even if you feel fine immediately after a car accident, you should see a doctor. Adrenaline can mask the pain from injuries, so you may not realize you are actually hurt. It is important to get medical attention because your doctor’s diagnosis will create important evidence for your case.
Accepting the First Insurance Offer
In most car accident injury cases, compensation comes from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. The insurance company may even take the initiative and send a settlement offer or even a check. It is important to keep in mind that the first settlement offer is almost always less than what the victim is really entitled to. It’s best to have an attorney review all settlement offers before you even consider accepting.
Not Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
Hiring a car accident attorney to handle your claim can be very advantageous. First of all, your attorney will handle all communications with the insurance company for you, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Secondly, your attorney can help you accurately quantify the damages you have suffered and fight effectively for you to receive maximum compensation.
If you are in need of a car accident attorney, call The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 now. We’re southern California’s #1 car accident firm and we have the skills and experience to fight effectively for you.
