Car Accident Attorney
Car accidents are frightening situations that create an enormous gap for human error. You may have trouble sorting things out or functioning properly in the aftershock of the incident. Many people end up making similar mistakes following a collision, even days after it has happened. To prevent you from making the same ones, it can help to know what they are before an accident even occurs, as an attorney such as a car accident attorney from a law firm like Yearin Law Office, can explain. Here are the biggest mistakes and how to handle them properly.
1. Not Calling Police
It’s very easy to talk yourself out of, or get talked out of, calling the police. You may have reasons for thinking it’s unnecessary, from not having insurance to presuming the accident is minor. However, calling the police creates several new avenues for recovery. You’ll get another witness on hand who can take statements and assess what happened. You can also ask for a police report to use in a claim.
2. Not Informing Insurance
Your insurance company needs to know if you’ve been in an accident regardless of who was at fault. If you were at fault, you’ll need to file with them anyway to get compensated, so there’s no point in hiding the accident. If the other driver was at fault, you still need to speak with your agent since the other driver’s insurance may try to talk to them.
3. Filing Late
With everything that goes on after an accident, it can be easy to get swept away in the current and push filing aside until later. Unfortunately, waiting too long can cost you an entire claim. You only have so much time to get your claim submitted according to your state laws. If you pass that deadline and try to file later, you’ll most likely be unable to reach a settlement.
4. Failing To Assess Injuries
While filing on time is crucial, you also don’t want to file prematurely. You’ll need to make sure you know about all your injuries (some latent ones can arise later) so that you can include them in the claim. You cannot double back and try to submit new injury costs with a claim that has already been filed.
5. Talking to the Other Driver’s Insurance
The other driver’s insurance may attempt to contact you after the accident, but you are not legally obligated to speak to them. You may want to avoid this conversation altogether because you could give away vital information that damages your case. The insurance adjuster is looking for a reason not to pay you, and they may find it in this discussion.
Are you struggling to navigate the insurance process after a crash? Contact a car accident attorney who can speak to adjusters, handle evidence and represent your case for a positive outcome.
