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What to Avoid After a Crash
When you’re involved in a collision, the steps you don’t take afterward can be just as important as the steps you do take. The days following can be a significant difference in whether or not you receive the full compensation for damages you may be entitled to for any injuries.
Since some cases may be complex depending on the circumstances involved, it’s important to understand what pitfalls to avoid. Remember, car accidents are unpredictable, so it’s in your best interest to arm yourself with this information should the unexpected happen. Here are five common mistakes to avoid after a car accident.
#1. Not Calling 911
Even for minor accidents such as fender benders, it’s still in your best interest to contact emergency services for assistance. Doing this will create a paper trail of the accident and allow you to give an official statement about what happened in a police report.
Additionally, emergency medical personnel will be able to assess your injuries and transport you to the nearest hospital. This will allow a doctor to determine the extent of your injuries and how they occurred; your attorney can use this information to build your claim to show the direct causation and extent of your injuries.
#2. Talking to the Insurance Company On Your Own
More often than not, the other party’s insurance company will attempt to contact you in the days following the crash. In doing so, they will make every attempt to ask questions and get information that can be used against you. If engaging in these conversations, remember that insurance companies are businesses and will always prioritize their own profits over the health and wellbeing of claimants.
Even if your claim is valid, adjusters will do what they can to use your statement to discredit or disprove your claim. This is why you should refrain from giving any recorded or written statement and should consider hiring an attorney to communicate with them on your behalf.
#3. Accepting the First Settlement Offer
Another reason to work with an attorney is to ensure that your claim is not being undervalued by the insurance company. In many cases, they will try to initially offer you less than what your claim is worth, even if they don’t have the evidence to substantiate doing so.
Accepting this first settlement offer could put you at risk of being left with out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages if the money runs out. A seasoned car accident attorney can review your case for free to calculate your total past, present, and future damages and negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf.
#4. Sharing Too Much on Social Media
Social media is a routine part of our everyday lives, so it’s natural to want to reach out to friends and family for support after a car accident. However, it’s important to remember that insurance adjusters will likely be checking your social media accounts to find evidence that could be used against you. For instance, if you make a claim that you sustained physical and emotional injuries but post photos of you on vacation immediately after, it could be used to discredit your claim.
Ultimately, always consider how your posts can be perceived by the insurance company or opposing party—and how it may be used against you. We recommend that you avoid posting entirely on social media during a pending car accident case. This includes photos, videos, comments, tagged locations, and anything at all related to the accident or your injuries.
#5. Not Hiring an Attorney
Many accident victims are hesitant to retain a car accident attorney because they are unsure how they could afford one. The good news is that many personal injury attorneys, including the ones at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen work on a contingency fee-basis. With this type of agreement, clients pay nothing upfront and we only collect fees if and when we help win them compensation.
Our attorneys deal with insurance companies on a daily basis. Additionally, we are well-equipped with the tools, resources, and knowledge of the law needed to build a solid claim on your behalf so that your chances of receiving full compensation are maximized. Let our team take this burden off of your shoulders so that you can focus on healing the right way.
To schedule a free consultation with the team at Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen, call (702) 505-8115 or fill out this short form.