What types of cases do you imagine when you hear the word “personal injury attorney”? Some of the most common cases consist of car accidents and insurance disputes. In many of these situations, legal discourse represents the only answer regardless of how much you may want to try and ‘go it alone’.
Car accidents
Did you know that most car accidents don’t happen in far-off locations on unfamiliar highways? The majority of all car accidents take place close to the driver’s home on much smaller roads that they are familiar with. To be more specific, in parking lots of shopping centers, at stop signs, on rural highways and on two-lane roads.
Here are 3 mistakes that can seriously ‘wreck’ your car accident lawsuit:
• Mistake #1 is discussing your injuries or case with others: Especially if you don’t think you did anything wrong, you may openly share information with an insurance adjuster. This has a potential to decrease your compensation or significantly delay resolution. Also, it may not be clear to whom you are describing the details of an accident to over the phone when you are told you are speaking to “an insurance adjuster”. For example, if your insurance company covers both drivers in a two-party incident, the OTHER driver may have an adjuster working on their behalf, not yours. To play it safe, talk to a personal injury lawyer first.
• Mistake #2 is posting on social media: A hasty social media post about the “accident you were just in” publicly shared with the world that contains contradictory language to a police report or the official account of the accident can be used against you. As social media became the norm for investigators to find a contradiction, you shouldn’t post anything until this case is 100% solved.
• Mistake #3 is ignoring medical advice or appointments: In order to retain the credibility of your injuries, following your doctor’s advice is very important. Not showing up to an appointment may give doubts from insurance adjusters. Always follow the advice of your doctors and show up to your appointments 100% of the time regardless of whether you think you need to or not.
Insurance disputes
Although many people completely trust insurance companies for their safety net if an accident occurs, these companies often don’t have the level of sympathy or empathy you may expect especially after being exposed to their “heart-warming” and “caring” TV commercials. Here are three misleading ways your insurance company might deny your claim.
• Situation #1 is to discourage you from seeking medical care: Sometimes, insurance companies do not encourage you to seek medical care. A medical examination that proves personal injury resulting from your accident greatly increases the likelihood your insurance company will have to make payments to you for this purpose. Denying medical attention at the behest of your insurance company is never a good idea.
• Situation #2 is to explain that your existing coverage is inadequate for the renumeration you are seeking: A hasty social media post about the “accident you were just in” publicly shared with the world that contains contradictory language to a police report or the official account of the accident can be used against you. As social media became the norm for investigators to find a contradiction, you shouldn’t post anything until this case is 100% solved.
• Case #3 is to get your statement on record immediately: Immediately after an accident, your adrenaline is rushing and you’re eager to tell the story to anyone who will listen. Insurance companies know this and take advantage of this knowledge. Offering an impromptu statement of exactly what you think happened during your initial reporting of an accident to your insurance company can be a big mistake. Even if you think you did nothing wrong, the insurance company may not see your story that way. Seeking legal advice from a professional is always a good idea.
If you or someone around you has been injured in an automobile accident, let our team of professionals fight for you! Get an experienced personal injury attorney in your corner today. Call Joey Gilbert Law 24/7 at 775-210-1501.
