In order to recover your losses from a road accident, you have to go through several procedures and you might even have to file a court case.
Simple mistakes will affect your case more than you think and you won’t be able to recover all your losses fully.
Given below are the costly mistakes that can ruin your auto accident case.
- Not Seeking Legal Help
In a complicated auto accident case, it is always better to hire a good accident or personal injury lawyer who will help you with the legal aspects of your case.
Since they are on your side, they will help you receive the best compensation. Your lawyer will also help you in the negotiation process with your insurance company.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, the lawyers at Munley, which is a truck accident law firm, can provide you with a great service.
- Admitting Fault
You should never admit fault in an accident even if you think you are wholly or partially responsible for it.
A recorded statement of you admitting fault can ruin your chances of winning your auto accident case.
If the police report your statement you can risk having a personal injury lawsuit filed against you.
- Not Documenting The Accident
Make sure you document the accident scene and gather all the evidence you possibly can. It will prove to be highly useful if your accident case comes up in court.
Your insurance company will also ask you for proof of damages and injuries. Take pictures of the inflicted damages on your vehicle. Pictures of landmarks or street signs can help confirm the location of the accident.
You should also take pictures of your injuries and license plates of the involved vehicles.
- Accepting Compensation On The Spot
Never accept any amount of compensation on the spot even if it seems like a good offer to you. You won’t know the full extent of your losses until a few days after the accident. Instead, reach out to your accident attorney and ask for their advice and how you should handle this particular situation.
Some injuries can develop later on which will lead to uncompensated medical bills. You should also never accept the first settlement offer of your insurance company.
This will mean you are agreeing to a release of liability and your accident case won’t progress any further.
- Refusing Medical Attention
Do not refuse medical attention even if you think your injuries are minor. You might develop more severe symptoms later on and this will go undiagnosed.
Shock or anxiety after an accident can numb any pain you feel so it is best to leave the examination to the doctor.
Your doctor’s diagnosis also serves as important evidence for your case in order to receive compensation for your medical bills.
- Not Filing An Accident Report
You should file an accident report immediately after the accident even if nobody was actively injured or the damages are minor. Contact law enforcement and let them investigate the accident scene.
They will take down all the necessary information including contact information of the involved parties, eyewitnesses and also record other physical evidence like bumps, scrapes, injuries and landmarks.
Without a law enforcement investigation it will be quite difficult to back up your claim.
- Posting Your Case On Social Media
In the heat of the situation some people post about their case on social media to get people to sympathise with them or even gain popularity.
They might even seek help from their followers who are not thoroughly informed about the situation. If the opposite party or people related to them see your post, they can manipulate and twist your words in their favor.
Everything you say online will be recorded and used as evidence against you in court.
- Waiting Too Long
Many states have time limits for making accident claims. Some places require you to file an accident report within 72 hours if the accident results in death.
If you file a personal injury claim a few weeks after the accident, your insurance company or the opposite party will argue that your injuries weren’t a result of the accident. This will result in uncompensated medical bills.
Conclusion
If you get involved in any kind of accident, file an accident report right away. A good lawyer can highly increase your chances of winning the accident case with proper guidance and knowledge about legal matters.
