Car Accidents And Lawsuits: 3 Surprising Things That You Must Do To Increase Your Chances Of Winning
A car accident is a terrifying and mind-rattling experience. For this reason, it's not uncommon for people to be unable to think clearly after an accident, which may cause them to make mistakes or forget things that can help them with their case later on. If you've been injured in an accident and want to seek damages for your injuries, there are several things you must do immediately following an accident to increase your chances of winning.
Write Down and Document Everything
You might not remember key details several days after an accident, so it's important to write down everything you can think of right after the accident. Things to document include:
- Location of the accident
- Time of the accident
- List of drivers and passengers involved
- How the accident played out
- Weather conditions
- Names of ambulance company and fire departments on scene
There are several reasons why this information is important. The defense will research and obtain documentation directly in an effort to find gaps and inaccuracies in your story. So you have to be sure that you remember things correctly. Also, you must be able to spot inaccuracies on police reports so you can dispute them.
See a Doctor Immediately for Evaluation
While it's true that many injuries don't show up for hours or days after an accident, you still have the right to be compensated for them. However, if you don't go to the hospital initially after the accident and make an appointment several days later after pain manifests, the defense might use this to show that you weren't severely injured at the time of the accident. Therefore, it's always a good idea to see a doctor immediately, even if you're not in pain.
Call Your Attorney before Calling Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company is on your side, but you shouldn't talk to them before talking to your attorney. During the course of the conversation with your insurance company, you will be asked a sequence of questions and your answers might hurt your case later on. For example, if they ask about previous back injuries and you tell them that you have back problems, you might be unable to collect on any back injuries sustained in the accident.
The defense has one goal in mind and that is to win the case and/or limit the amount of damages they have to pay. They are always on the lookout for information that might put a kink in your case. Don't give them the opportunity. Make sure you do everything you possibly can after an accident to win your case. Contact a local attorney, like Monohan & Blankenship, with any questions.