In the unfortunate situation of an accident that causes personal injury, your subsequent actions could impact your future health and the chance of you filing a successful claim if not handled properly.
Discussing next steps with a qualified attorney prior to communication with insurance companies is often recommended. Regardless, there are a few things you should consider so you are safeguarded and not left out in the cold.
First Things First
If you sustained an injury due to the accident, it’s important to get checked out by a medical professional right away. This will provide you with a professional diagnosis and possibly identify potential lingering injuries even as some symptoms may not show up until days or weeks later.
Delaying a visit to a medical professional could affect your claim value or even increase the chance your claim is denied. Doing this immediately will allow you to provide more accurate information regarding the accident, rather that possibly leaving out critical details.
Also note, if the injury was the result of a car accident, always contact the police so a report is on file.
Watch What You Say
Insurance companies will frequently reach you immediately following an accident to ask you questions or even obtain a statement. And unfortunately, some adjusters may use unscrupulous tactics to get you to admit to or say something that could negatively impact your claim. The best strategy is to answer only simple questions but not admit to or make a definitive statement about the accident or your injuries until you are able to accurately assess the situation (and your health) and establish whether you are due compensation.
Determining Your Outcome
The most critical step in a personal injury situation is to assess and determine if you are due compensation because of the accident. This is where a legal professional can be extremely helpful. Attorneys in personal injury cases have experience evaluating accidents to determine if there was any wrongdoing or negligence and therefore advise as to whether or not you have a valid claim.
And finally, your attorney can best inform you as to the various types of compensation and damages that may be available to you because of the accident.
If you find yourself injured as the result of an accident and need legal assistance, please contact our Personal Injury attorneys for a consultation.