7 Mistakes to Avoid After a Car Accident
If you are hurt in an automobile accident, you may be able to recover damages in a car accident lawsuit. Your odds of winning compensation go up if you avoid these seven mistakes.
1) Not Calling the Police
Some people think that simply exchanging information with the others involved in an accident is enough, but if you are injured, be sure to call the police.
The court will want to see a police report, so there is a legal record of what occurred.
2) Posting on Social Media
We are a nation of sharers now, and you may be tempted to post pictures or other information on social media that could hurt your case. If you’re trying to recover funds for your medical expenses, for example, but you post a photo of you climbing a mountain, you could be putting your case in jeopardy.
Expect that defense lawyers and insurance adjusters will be pulling out all the stops to find information, and that includes perusing your social media feeds.
3) Signing Papers Without Consultation
The fine print on some legal papers could hurt you if you’re not aware of what it’s saying. Check with your lawyer before signing legal documents.
You don’t want to make a mistake that will waive future injury claims or give no-fault insurance companies free access to your private information.
4) Neglecting to Take Pictures
Whenever you’re in an accident, take pictures as soon as possible, not only of the accident site and the vehicle damage, but of your own injuries before and after medical treatment.
Videos can also be very helpful to your case. Consider videos of you trying to do daily tasks that before were easy and now, because of your injuries, are difficult.
5) Talking About Your Case
An auto accident is a traumatic experience, and it’s understandable that you’ll want to talk about it. Just be extremely careful who you talk to.
Your best bet is to limit your conversations to only your personal injury attorney. The danger is that you could accidentally leak information to the defense attorney or insurance adjuster.
6) Failing to Go to the Doctor—Or Ignoring Your Doctor’s Advice
First, if you are injured, go to the doctor, even if you think it’s not serious. Injuries can get worse over time, and you’ll need a record from a medical professional.
If you don’t get medical attention, it will appear as if your injuries weren’t serious enough to go to court.
Next, be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions to the letter. If you don’t, you risk having the defense attorney question whether your injuries were serious.
Be particularly vigilant about attending your medical appointments, and do your best to make it clear that you are doing all you’ve been told to do to get better.
7) Stretching the Truth
Don’t exaggerate or stretch the truth, even on the smaller details. If the other side discovers holes in your story, your case will be in jeopardy. If you don’t remember something, tell your attorney.