Posted on Friday, February 12th, 2016 at 4:05 pm
Forgive us for the pun in the title but it is important that you understand that some things you do can literally “wreck” your auto accident claim causing you to receive less money than you deserve. As personal injury attorneys, we handle hundreds of auto accident cases each year. We encourage people to contact us as soon as possible after the accident so we can help them avoid mistakes that will hurt their chances of recovery in an auto accident claim.
Unfortunately, some clients come to us after making the following mistakes. In some cases, we can undo the damage but in other cases, we must simply do the best job possible given the circumstances we are presented with by the client.
How Can I Wreck My Auto Accident Claim?
- Failing to See a Doctor Immediately
If you are in a motor vehicle accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. If your injuries do not require a trip to the emergency room from the accident scene, schedule an appointment with your physician with a few days after the accident. You may not feel pain or notice symptoms at the accident scene due to the shock of the accident and the adrenaline created in response to the accident. Furthermore, some symptoms could be delayed for a few days.
If you fail to seek medical attention, the insurance company for the other driver will jump on this with both feet. It will claim that you were not injured in the accident since you did not see a doctor or that you injuries would be less severe if you had seen a doctor immediately after the accident. Insurance companies want to see documentation that you were injured in the accident — medical records dated close to the accident date are the best way to document your injuries from the accident.
- Dealing with the Insurance Adjuster
The insurance adjuster is NOT your friend and the adjuster is NOT working for you. Insurance adjusters employ “tricks” they are trained to use to gain information to use against you. For example, the adjuster will request a signed medical release to verify your injuries. This seems logical; however, the adjuster will not explain the release is for all of your medical records. If the insurance company can find a pre-existing condition, it will try to use this to claim your injuries are not solely caused by the accident.
The adjuster will also request a recorded or written statement. Again, the adjuster is simply trying to get you to say something that can be used to deny your claim or lower your compensation. Do not fall for these tricks — call our office and let us handle the adjusters.
- Failing to Document the Accident Scene
If you are seriously injured, you obviously are not able to document the accident scene; however, you can ask a friend or relative to do this for you or contact our office immediately so that we can perform an accident investigation. Provided you are able to do so, you should:- Take photos of the accident scene
- Obtain the names and contact information for witnesses
- Get a copy of the police report
- Request the other drivers name, address, and insurance information
- Write down the details of the accident as you remember them while they are still fresh in your mind
Don’t Wreck Your Auto Accident Claim by Failing to Consult with an Experienced Sacramento Car Accident Attorney
Contact Tiemann Law Firm today to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney who will fight for your right to receive a fair and just settlement for your auto accident claim.
You can contact us online, call our toll free number at (916) 999-9000, or chat with a representative on our website. Our top priority is to reduce the level of stress you are experiencing from dealing with your physical, emotional, and financial damages from the car wreck. Let our attorneys handle the legal aspects of your auto accident claim while you focus on your recovery.
