Getting into an auto accident is—hopefully—something that you won’t experience very often. However, because of the unusual circumstances, people who have been involved in an accident may inadvertently harm their chances of recovering from their injuries. Here are some things to avoid doing if you are involved in an auto accident.
Forgetting or neglecting to gather relevant information
In the immediate aftermath of an accident, once the authorities have been notified, you should begin to take steps to preserve information that may come in handy later on (if you are not too injured to safely do so). This includes the name and contact information of any witnesses, as well as photos of the scene that show things such as the condition of the weather.
Obviously, nobody would suggest that you try to collect this information if you have suffered a serious injury. However, many injuries from auto accidents are minor enough that they won’t interfere with you doing this, even if those injuries are significant enough to cause problems down the road. Use your best judgment in determining whether you should be gathering information, but remember that you may not have another chance to do so.
Talking to insurance companies before consulting an attorney
In many auto accident cases, plaintiffs end up damaging their cases before they even realize they have one. Remember, the insurance company is not your friend: they stay in business by paying out as little as possible on claims.
This means your first call after family and friends should be to a competent personal injury attorney. He or she will know exactly what you should and should not do to preserve your case. What’s more, he or she can act as your advocate and communicate with the insurance company on your behalf.
At O’Neil Injury Law, we have the experience necessary to help you protect your rights. We can visit with you in our offices or even in the hospital if you are unable to leave due to your injuries. Let us talk with you and evaluate your case.
In the event that you do have a cause of action against an insurance company, let us handle that, too. You can focus on getting better while we focus on protecting your rights. We know the area of personal injury, and we know how to battle the insurance company tactics. Let us help you put your life back together.