3 Mistakes To Avoid After Being Injured In A Car Accident That Wasn't Your Fault
No one ever expects to get in a car accident, and when you're hit by another vehicle through no fault of your own and suffer injuries, it can wreak havoc on your life. Recovering from your injuries while also dealing with your insurance claim with the other driver's insurance company can be a nightmare. If you want to ensure that you get the best settlement possible after being injured in an auto wreck, avoid the following mistakes:
Not Hiring an Attorney
One of the most common reasons a person does not hire an experienced personal injury attorney after a car accident that results in injury is because he or she does not think they can afford to pay an attorney's fees. Personal injury attorneys who specialize in car accidents typically work on contingency, which means that you are not responsible for any out of pocket costs. Instead, your attorney will receive a percentage of the settlement that you are awarded. Since you are not personally responsible for paying a personal injury lawyer yourself, there is no reason not to hire one to represent you and work on your behalf to secure the best settlement possible.
Neglecting Medical Care
After being injured in a car accident, medical care is important for both your recovery and your insurance claim. Your medical records are important pieces of evidence that show your initial injuries and how long they took to heal. If you skip doctors appointments or stop seeing your doctor all together when you feel a little bit better, your claim will be weaker. Make sure that you attend all follow-up appointments with your doctor, and closely follow his or her treatment instructions.
Trusting the Other Driver's Insurance Company
After you're injured in a car accident that wasn't your fault, one of the most important things to know is that the other driver's insurance company is not on your side. It is in your best interest to avoid any interaction with the other driver's insurance company, and refrain from giving them a written or verbal statement regarding your account of the accident and the events that led up to it.
Insurance companies typically employ a business model that is based on paying out as little as possible on injury claims, so anything you say to the other driver's insurance company has the potential to be turned around to make it appear like you could be partly at fault for the accident. Instead of interacting directly with the other driver's insurance company, ask them to contact your attorney. For additional info about how to proceed, contact an auto accident attorney.