When someone else’s carelessness or recklessness has injured you in a car accident, you have legal rights. One of your primary rights is that of receiving financial compensation to pay for all the damages that you have suffered. What you do in the moments and days following the accident could dictate whether you can be paid for your injuries and how much you get. Here is what to do after a car accident that’s not your fault.
See a Doctor and Follow Their Treatment Recommendations
There are many reasons to get the medical help that you need after a car accident. Of course, the foremost reason is your own health and recovery. Car accident injuries are not always apparent at the scene of the accident. Some may take days or weeks to show symptoms. During that time, they could grow worse if left untreated. This could include things like traumatic brain injuries and neck and back damage. It helps to get a full picture of your health and receive a comprehensive diagnosis.
In addition, you should follow what your doctor says. An accident victim has an obligation to lessen their own damages. Insurance companies try to reduce settlements when they think that you are not sticking with your medical course of treatment. If the doctor says something, it is best for both your health and your legal case to do it.
Contact and Hire an Attorney
Your legal rights are constantly under attack after a car accident. The main culprit is the other driver’s insurance company that will need to write the check to cover their policyholder’s carelessness. They will do everything they can to avoid paying you what you are owed, from denying the claim in its entirety to making laughably low settlement offers. Without the help of an experienced lawyer, your claim and finances could be at risk.
Proving that the accident was someone else’s fault is a requirement for compensation. However, this is not always easy, especially when you are tending to your own health. An attorney will get right to work to gather the evidence that you need to accompany your claim. They will handle the claims process in its entirety, keeping you from being ambushed by the insurance company that wants to get you on record saying things that could undercut your claim.
Further, an attorney could handle settlement negotiations. The fact that the accident is someone else’s fault is just part of the process. Getting the amount of compensation that you deserve is often the major point of contention between you and the insurance company. It requires the help of someone who has experience knowing when to say no and reject a low offer and fight for what you deserve.
Be Careful Speaking About the Accident
You can assume that anything that you say about the accident is public knowledge and can be used against you by the insurance company. If you are wondering whether the insurance company can engage in surveillance, the answer is yes, and they often do it. They can check your social media and even hire someone to follow you around. Therefore, you should not say anything publicly about the accident or your claim.
Also, you need to be very careful when you get any phone calls from someone that you do not know, especially one who works for the insurance agency. You do not have any obligation to speak to them. In fact, you should only be speaking through your attorney. Otherwise, you may say something that could harm your case. You never know what the insurance company may try to use against you to save themselves money. Therefore, keeping quiet is the best path to take after an accident because saying too much can undercut your case.
Get the Medical and Legal Help that You Need After Your Accident
When you have been injured in a car accident, you are facing a number of challenges, and you do not have the time or bandwidth to coordinate your medical care. Finding a Miami Accident lawyer may also be difficult because you may now even know where to begin. 388CEDA has doctors on staff that could diagnose and document your injuries. We can also recommend an experienced lawyer upon request who will fight for your legal rights. Call us today at 1-800-388-CEDA to learn about how we can help you recover physically after your accident as well as protect your legal interests.
