Being involved in a car accident is stressful and frustrating, but even more so if the incident wasn’t your fault! Although some of these cases are pretty clear-cut and don’t require any real litigation, there are other situations where a claim is lost due to the involved party making certain harmful blunders. If you’re about to tackle a car accident case, then here are some big mistakes which you need to avoid.
Failing to Seek Legal Assistance from the Start
When you’re convinced that you haven’t done anything wrong in a car accident case, then you may be tempted to handle it yourself, and skip over those big legal fees. In a lot of cases though, this is a sure-fire way for people to do massive, irreparable damage to their case. If you want the best chances of coming out of the case completely unscathed, it’s best to work with an expert on your car accident injury case from the very beginning. If you’re worried about the costs that come with legal assistance, most law firms will offer a free, no-obligation consultation on your specific case. This can give you a much clearer perspective on our legal trouble, and your case may be so strong you can handle it yourself. When in doubt though, talk to an attorney!
Making a Recorded Statement for your Insurance Company
I know, your insurance adjuster may sound very pleasant and helpful in conversation; that’s probably why they got the job in the first place! These adjusters are trained to get information out of you which the insurance company can use later to reduce or even deny any compensation that was on your way. Yes, if you want a hope of getting any compensation at all, you need to report the accident to your insurer. However, you should always talk to your car accident attorney before making any recorded statements or signing anything. Your lawyer will have a length of experience dealing with insurance adjustors, and will be able to tell you what you should and shouldn’t say.
Failing to Carry On with Medical Treatments
Pretty much every insurance company will shave down your compensation if there are any gaps in your medical treatment. Even if the injury is very minor and you feel that you’re on the way to recovery, ducking out of treatment is never a good idea. Evidence of chronic pain and injury can be critical to the outcome of your case, especially if the other driver’s liability is being disputed. If the other party can prove that you’ve been skipping doctor’s appointments and physical therapy sessions, this can be used as evidence that you’re completely healed and don’t need care. This can be the final nail in the coffin when your claim hinges on your injury. Aside from the legal consequences, it’s essential that you continue seeing medical professionals until you’re completely healed, even if you feel fine!
Avoid these three mistakes, and your car accident case will go ahead without any pitfalls.
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