3 Costly Mistakes That Could Jeopardize Your Car Accident Claim

Being involved in a car accident can be devastating. Not only do you have to worry about repairing the damage to your vehicle, but you also have to worry about dealing with your injuries and getting back to normal. After an accident, your emotions are high and you often wonder what to do to best handle the situation. However, you want to make sure you don't end up making a mistake that could jeopardize your case. So make sure that you do not forget these things:

Not gathering information pertaining to the accident and witnesses.

When injured in an accident, you want to gather as much information as you possibly can. Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of witnesses. Document everything you can think of relating to the accident itself. Date, time of day, what happened, what you were driving and so on are all important pieces of information for your attorney to have.

Not going to the doctor to get checked out after the accident.

Oftentimes, people end up waiting to get checked out because they think they are fine. After an accident, your cortisol levels are at an all-time high because of the amount of stress your body is under. When your levels are elevated, you don't always feel that you are injured. In a couple of days, your injuries come to light and you are stuck trying to figure out what to do.

The best thing you can do is to head to the doctor or hospital and get a full check-up after the accident. This will document anything that is going on with your body and help the provider to get an accurate picture of what type of treatment you need.

Not taking your time to negotiate a fair settlement.

Oftentimes, individuals who are injured in an auto accident will settle their claims right away without taking the time to think about whether or not they are getting a fair deal. Just because you might need help to pay your bills, that doesn't mean you should short yourself on what you are entitled to receive. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back to the insurance company and request additional money on your claim. You are much better off sitting back and waiting for everything to be worked out before you agree on an amount.

Allowing your attorney to work with the insurance company will make sure everything goes through without a hitch and you get the compensation you deserve. For more information, visit an attorney or their website, such as http://www.strohllaw.com/, for more questions about your case. 


Share