When you suffer an injury in a car accident, you need to seek medical help as soon as possible. In some cases, an injury may be so severe that there is no time to remain at the scene of the accident and wait for police to investigate.
Soon, however, you may receive phone calls from insurance companies or attorneys representing the other party or parties in the accident. It is important that you limit what you say to these individuals.
Depending on the nature of the accident, what you say could drastically influence the course of your own recovery and personal injury claim. In these circumstances, it is wise to consult with an attorney. If the damages from the accident were extensive, there may be hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions of dollars that some party is on the hook to produce. With proper, professional legal representation, you can protect yourself against unreasonable claims of liability while building a strong claim seeking full, fair compensation for your injuries and losses.
Beware of friendly insurance adjusters
After you suffer an injury, you may find that you get a call from an insurance adjuster representing the other party, Often, this person shows concern for your welfare, and may be eager to offer you a settlement.
You do not want to say any more than you have to when you receive these calls. Any information that you give the adjuster may be used against you, to justify paying out less than you deserve. Furthermore, whatever the adjuster is offering is almost certainly less than the injury is worth.
Should an adjuster mention that the insurer is offering to pay your medical bills, this probably means that the insurer believes that the claim could cost them dearly. They may hope to get you to agree to a small settlement before you know how much your recovery will really cost, or what the long-term effects might be. Whatever you do, do not accept this offer at the time. Ask for the offer in writing and thank them for their time.
Once you receive the offer in writing, it may include a release asking you to forego further payment. Under no circumstances should you sign this release until you obtain professional legal counsel.
Get the help you need
Your injuries may take months or years to fully heal, so how can you possibly focus on your recovery and pursue a personal injury claim to its full potential? Many individuals who pursue personal injury claims with professional legal counsel receive far less than they truly deserve. In part, this is because they do not know the way that insurance companies negotiate claims, and in part because they have bills piling up and they need relief from the financial burden of waiting for a settlement.
If you recently suffered an injury in a car accident, be sure to seek out all the legal counsel you need. While you focus on your recovery, your attorney will focus on protecting your rights and securing fair, full compensation for your losses.