If you’re wondering what to do next in the days after a crash, you’re certainly not alone. Once the adrenaline and initial shock wear off, there are several crucial steps to take to protect yourself and ensure you can receive the financial support you deserve for a motor vehicle accident.
If you suffer from injuries, seek immediate medical care and contact Indiana, PA car accident attorney about your legal rights. Legal consultations are free.
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A motor vehicle accident is frightening and can be emotionally and psychologically traumatic. The crash’s impact can take several hours or days to fully hit you. However, you should never wait to begin protecting your rights. Here are the next steps you must take after a car accident.
See a doctor immediately — whether or not emergency workers examined you at the car accident scene. It’s important to follow up with a physician, especially because many car accident injury symptoms, such as whiplash and concussions, can take several hours or even days to develop. It’s also necessary to have medical records to properly document things for your legal claim.
After you see a physician, follow their medical discharge instructions. Not following your doctor’s orders can lead to further discomfort or injury. Furthermore, it can be detrimental to your car accident claim.
For example, suppose your doctor tells you not to work for a week, but you try to work instead of following the doctor’s orders. In that case, the insurance company may question your injury and deny your accident claim. Dealing with often astronomical medical costs because the insurer denied a claim has bankrupt victims without the right legal help.
Don’t neglect your recovery by disregarding medical advice, rushing or overdoing things, or missing important appointments like physical therapy because you’re trying to live as you did before the accident.
You should report the auto accident to your car insurance company, regardless of if it is the other motorist’s fault. If you already hired a car accident attorney, they should handle this communication. If you make the call, you should not say much during the initial call, but it’s important to report it in case you need to use any of your own coverage.
Seek immediate legal counsel. Retaining a car accident lawyer is your best tool against the practices that many insurance companies employ to lowball injury victims like yourself.
Unfortunately, many insurance companies have a handful of tricks they use against car accident victims, including:
Call an attorney immediately to avoid the potential risks of assuming liability for a car accident that wasn’t your fault or accepting an unreasonably low settlement for your damages and injuries.
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Write things down. Keeping a detailed accounting of your car accident, medical appointments, and conversations with insurance companies and lawyers helps your attorney secure a fair settlement. Document discomfort, pain, emotional distress, daily limitations, and any missed time from work, school, or other commitments.
While your lawyer will obtain medical records with your written consent, keeping a copy of all records and anything else that may help your attorney negotiate a substantial settlement is still a good idea.
Examples of Documents You Want to Keep:
Keeping your documents and bills in a portfolio folder or accordion file helps maintain organization, making the process much easier for you and your attorney.
Now that you understand what to do after a car accident, also know there are a couple of things you should never do after a car accident.
Never give a recorded statement to the insurance company of the at-fault driver. Even if they ask nicely, don’t give a recorded statement to representatives or investigators for the insurance company of the driver who hit you without speaking to your lawyer.
Remember, insurance companies often employ deceitful tactics to get you to say something so they can deny your claim. That includes asking you questions designed to elicit harmful or inconsistent statements from you. They do not have your best interest at heart. If you are asked to give a recorded statement, contact an attorney before you agree.
As tempting as it may be to hop onto social media and vent your frustrations about being a victim of your car accident, don’t do it. Making statements or comments online may be twisted to read as an admission of fault.
Posting pictures of you living your best life on vacation or at a backyard barbecue may be used as evidence of not being as injured as you claim, even though they are not accurate portrayals of your injuries and overall struggles.
Photos can be harmful to a claim, and you don’t want to give the at-fault driver’s insurance company any ammunition to make the process more challenging. Always discuss social media guidance with your attorney before you post anything online.
With zero out-of-pocket expense, hiring a personal injury lawyer in Indiana, PA makes the most sense in safeguarding yourself against shady insurance tactics and inadequate settlement offers. Most car accident lawyers only receive their contingency fees after successfully obtaining their client’s compensation.
It’s what they do every day, which makes them better equipped to navigate insurance practices and negotiate larger settlements than the average car accident victim attains without representation.
The sooner you call, the quicker you can begin protecting yourself and securing compensation. Seek a free consultation with a lawyer today.
Marcus & Mack
