The danger here is that their actions might hurt their ability to secure fair and full compensation for their injuries. What mistakes might these be? Read on to find out:
Leaving The Scene Of The Accident
Not only is it illegal to leave the scene of a car accident without first stopping and exchanging information with the parties involved, but doing so could make it impossible to secure compensation for your injuries because these pieces of information are vital for filing a claim. This is even more true in instances when the accident yields injuries.
Admitting Fault
In many states, fault or tort is the determinant of where liabilities are incurred. With this in mind, it's very important that parties be careful of what they say because even a mere apology, as good-natured as it may initially seem, may in fact be interpreted as an admission of guilt. After all, if it wasn't your fault, why would there be a need to apologize?
Extra care should be taken when talking with insurance representatives. Never give a statement to the at-fault insurance agent without first speaking to an attorney.
Failing To Gather Photographic Evidence
While your claim may not be dismissed outright for such a failure, it would certainly hurt your chances of securing compensation. Photographic evidence is very important in a claim because it is one of the most compelling types of evidence you can present.
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Failing To Seek Medical Attention
Adrenaline can easily mask any pain you feel after an accident. Thus, even when a person feels fine after an accident, he may not know the full extent of his injuries without first getting examined by a doctor.
Thus, if the true extent of injuries cannot be determined, then the court cannot accurately determine the amount of damages to award a claimant.
Accepting An Insurer's First Settlement Offer
Compensation will often come from the at-fault party's insurance company. Sometimes, the company may even take the initiative to send a settlement offer to the claimant. This settlement offer will almost always be significantly less than the amount that the claimant is actually entitled to.
This is even more dangerous if you've sustained long-term injuries that often translate to prolonged medical expenses - expenses that would have been taken care of had you been awarded the damages that you were actually entitled to.
Not Hiring A Lawyer
The biggest mistake that anyone can make in legal matters is failing to hire a lawyer. Lawyers are not only your best chance of securing full and fair compensation, but there are seasoned lawyers that specialise in handling these types of cases. Training, knowledge, and experience are all the best reasons why you need to hire a lawyer to help you with your claim. And while it’s true that attorney’s fees aren’t cheap, good lawyers are more than worth the cost.
These are some things that you should be aware of in case you get into an accident. Following these steps can help you get the compensation you deserve.
