When you contact a doctor, lawyer, or insurance company after a car accident, the last thing you want to hear is, “I would have been able to help you more if you had contacted me sooner,” or, “I don’t know what you mean unless you show me a picture.” You can and should work with professionals to resolve the financial fallout after a car accident. Still, some of the outcomes of your case rely on things you do or do not do immediately after the accident or even before the accident.
Car accident lawyers have seen and heard almost every possible scenario involving people struggling financially as a result of car accident injuries; they can work within the law to get you as much money as possible to cover your medical bills and other accident-related losses, but they cannot break the law. The sooner you contact a Norcross car accident lawyer after an accident, the sooner a check to cover your accident-related expenses will be in your bank account.
Waiting Until the Next Day to See the Doctor
If you don’t require stitches or exhibit immediate visible injuries, it may seem like you’re unharmed. However, symptoms like headaches or neck pain may emerge the following day, indicative of potential issues such as whiplash or concussion, common after car accidents. Waiting to seek medical attention may lead to challenges, as insurance companies might attribute symptoms to pre-existing conditions. To safeguard your case, promptly visit an emergency room or urgent care center for an examination and documentation of your account by a doctor. This report can significantly impact insurance claims or potential personal injury lawsuits. Seeking early treatment can also mitigate the severity of symptoms.
Not Taking Pictures of the Scene of the Accident
Insurance claims adjusters may request pictures of the accident scene to better understand the dynamics and allocate fault percentages. Using your phone to capture images of vehicle damage and the accident location can assist doctors in connecting your symptoms to the accident. If you’re too injured to take pictures, enlist help from a passenger, a police officer, or someone else present at the scene.
Being Disorganized When it Comes to Insurance
Georgia law requires drivers to carry liability insurance to cover property damage and medical expenses resulting from accidents that they cause. The legally required insurance is sufficient to cover other people’s vehicle repairs and medical bills in accidents where you are at fault. This does not help you if the other driver caused the accident, though.
You can reduce the stress of filing a lawsuit and ensure adequate financial coverage by purchasing optional insurance that pays for your accident-related medical expenses, regardless of fault. Insurance does not apply retroactively, so buy it now instead of after you get injured.
When filing an insurance claim or answering questions from claims adjusters, choose your words wisely. When taking a recorded statement, claims adjusters will ask you misleading questions to get you to contradict yourself. They will also make small talk to get you to open up about your health history, including pre-existing conditions. They are doing this to find excuses to pay you less money for your claim. It is best to go into the conversation armed with a set of notes about your accident. Even better, do not give a recorded statement at all and have your lawyer talk to the insurance company instead.
Oversharing on Social Media
If your injuries are so severe that an insurance settlement will not cover them, you have the right to file a lawsuit against the party or parties responsible for the accident. When you file a lawsuit, the other party will investigate thoroughly to find any evidence that might discredit your claims. Anything you say on social media can and will be used against you. This includes pictures of you traveling or socializing at times when you claimed to be bedridden, as well as posts from before the car accident that portray you as dishonest, greedy, or attention hungry.
Accepting an Insufficient Insurance Settlement
Upon reviewing drivers’ recorded statements and other evidence, insurance companies send settlement offer letters to accident victims. If you sign and accept the settlement, you forfeit the right to file a lawsuit related to the accident. If the offered amount is insufficient, refrain from signing. Instead, consult with a personal injury lawyer who can negotiate with the insurance company to secure a more favorable settlement for you.
Not Working With a Lawyer
Do not assume that just because you are healthy enough to return to work and you probably do not need to file a lawsuit, it means that you do not need to hire a lawyer. A car accident lawyer can help you get an adequate insurance settlement to cover your accident-related medical bills without going to court.
Contact 770 Good Law About Car Accident Cases
If the insurance companies are not offering you enough money to cover your accident-related medical bills, you need a car accident lawyer. Contact 770 Good Law, the Law Office of H.Q. Alex Nguyen and Associates, LLC, in Riverdale, Georgia, to discuss your case.
