These Five Mistakes Could Ruin Your Accident Claim

You’ve been in a car accident, and you know that the car accident attorney you choose to represent you is extremely important. Equally important in determining how successful your claim for compensation is are the things that you do after your accident. Below are five big mistakes that people commonly make after being in an accident that can wreck a personal injury claim:

• Failure to Report the Accident – You know that you need to report a car accident to the police, but did you know that if you slip and fall at a supermarket you need to report the incident to the store owner? Even if you aren’t sure how severe your injuries are, you need to report the accident. Many times, injuries won’t rear their ugly heads for days or even weeks after the accident. Filing a report will also ensure that the incident is documented and will allow you to get the contact and insurance information of anyone who was involved in the accident.
• Discussing How You Feel with Other People at the Scene of the Accident or What Happened – Unexpected accidents can leave you confused and sorting out the details of how serious the accident is or how exactly it happened should be left up to the professionals. A team of trained investigators will conduct interviews with witnesses and examine the scene to determine the cause of the accident. It is also common for people to not understand the full psychological or emotional trauma they may develop from the accident. You should not discuss the accident or make a statement until you have spoken with an attorney and have been examined by your doctor.
• Failing to Seek Medical Treatment Immediately – Many people make the mistake of thinking they are not injured after their accident and so they delay treatment. However, you need to visit your doctor as soon as possible after your accident and let them know what happened that way if symptoms of an injury appear later, the doctor will be able to determine if they are due to your accident or not.
• Posting on Social Media After Your Accident – While you may think that what you post on social media is accessible only to your closest friends, that photo you shared on Facebook of you hiking while on vacation could wreck your claim. Although it may have been taken just steps from your hotel and you might not have really been hiking, the defense for your claim will attempt to use anything and everything they can to discredit your claims. Even if you lock your account, the court may order your social media accounts to be opened during the discovery phase of your lawsuit.
• Trying to Handle Your Claim Without an Attorney – The insurance adjusters may claim to be your friend, but they are really out to protect the bottom line for the company that they are employed by. If you want a fair settlement, you will likely need an experienced personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about the amount your claim is worth and work to ensure that you are treated fairly and get the compensation that you deserve.

Contact a Charleston Car Accident Attorney Today

Although it is important to avoid these five mistakes, that is only the beginning to getting the settlement that you deserve. If you have been injured in an accident, contact the attorneys at the David Aylor Law Offices today and let us handle the legal side of things so you can focus on your recovery.