Did you suffer a personal injury in a car accident? This refers to damage to your physical body or emotional suffering directly caused by an accident. You could file a claim with an insurance company in this case for financial compensation for these damages.
However, in order to receive the money that you deserve, you should avoid common mistakes that could weaken your claim. Pay attention to your actions and take steps to ensure your case has the optimal chance for success. Read on to find tips from personal injury attorney Big Al to help you keep your claim strong.
Collect Evidence at the Car Accident Scene
After a car accident, things can feel chaotic and stressful. So you should understand in advance of this incident that you should obtain as much evidence as you can at the scene of the wreck.
Take photos of the vehicles involved in the crash to capture the extent of the damage. Photograph the surrounding area as well, including relevant road signs. These can serve as proof regarding the cause of the accident, which will support the insurance claim you intend to file later.
You should also contact the police so that they can make an official report of the accident. Obtain a copy of this report when it is ready to use as further evidence.
Insurance companies will consider this evidence when determining who was at fault for the car accident. You can only be eligible for personal injury compensation if you were not at fault in the crash. So any evidence to support your case can aid your claim’s success.
Do Not Post on Social Media
You may feel tempted to publish on your social media account about this major incident in your life. However, sharing even a single photo could hurt a personal injury claim that you intend to file.
An insurance company will check your public account and use your own posts about the event to attempt to contradict your claim. Then you might not receive the compensation that you deserve. So refrain from posting anything about a car accident on any form of social media.
Seek Necessary Medical Care
If you or another person at the scene of a car accident require urgent medical assistance, call 911 right away. But sometimes, an injury might not display symptoms until several days after an accident. Pay attention to your body, and if you notice discomfort, do not ignore it.
You might think you can tolerate soreness, but it could point to a symptom of a more serious injury. A doctor can evaluate your symptoms and perform scans that can find signs of internal damage that may seem hidden.
This early attention can prevent you from worsening your injury, and reports from a doctor can act as evidence of the injury in your claim. So do not delay seeing a doctor after a car crash.
Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney
You might think that you can handle filing a personal injury claim with your insurance company on your own. But you might miss important details that could help your case if you do not seek help from a legal expert.
A personal injury attorney can sort through the events of the car accident and offer advice to help you obtain the full amount of compensation you deserve. Talk to an experienced law firm before you reach out to your insurance provider.