6 Mistakes to Avoid After an Auto Accident
Auto accident injuries can take a toll on your body, not to mention being financially and physically costly. If you are injured in an auto accident, it's important to know what happens next. This can save you time and money and protect your rights. Here are some common mistakes to avoid after an auto accident:
1. Not getting an auto accident lawyer
Most insurance companies will require you to hire an attorney to represent you when you reach the settlement stage of the auto accident process. Why? Because they feel your rights are not being protected since they allege their client was at fault. Insurance companies are, of course, always trying to lower their client's liability exposure. Since they do this most often, it's wise to hire a lawyer immediately. For more information on the importance of hiring a car accident attorney, visit https://dwpersonalinjurylaw.com/.
2. Not following up on your medical treatment
After an auto accident, pain and headaches can persist forever, even when you are not injured. Headaches are all too common for those who get rear-ended. According to harrispersonalinjury.com, this is why it is essential to follow up on your medical treatment. If the doctor prescribed a certain amount of physical therapy or medication and you only took it a few times because it seemed to help, continue getting this treatment at least until your injuries are fully healed.
3. Colluding with the insurance company
Insurance companies know one thing better than anyone – how to make money. Insurance companies settle auto accident claims for two reasons. First, it's in their financial best interest, and second, it's what they do. If you want to keep your auto accident injuries from being worse than they are:
- Do not collude with them in any way.
- Don't just take their settlement offer.
- Hire a lawyer and ask for an extended medical report to know how your injuries could evolve.
4. Not requesting your medical records
Insurance companies will ask you about your injuries and any medications or physical therapy you are receiving. They want to know how bad your injuries are and if they are permanent. But what happens if you don't have a way of proving to them which injuries occurred after the auto accident and which ones didn't? Make sure you request all of your medical records from the date of the accident up to at least two years after, in case any chronic conditions develop afterwards.
5. Not reporting to police
During the auto accident investigation process, you will be asked to file a police report if there is reason to believe the other driver was at fault. No one wants to deal with the legal implications of an auto accident. If you are not at fault and are injured, it's important that you report the incident, even though it can be humiliating. A police report keeps your injuries and property damage on record for possible legal action in the future.
6. Ignoring the deductible
If you are at fault in an accident, your auto insurance company will expect you to pay your deductible and theirs. If you don't have enough money to pay both deductibles out-of-pocket, it is important that you inform your insurance company of this since you could have your policy cancelled for non-payment. If this happens, you can be responsible for paying the other person's damages. A small copay now can save a lot of money later on.
Conclusion
If you made it this far, you now have more than enough information to help you in your auto accident injury claim process. These tips will ensure that your doctor, healthcare professionals, and lawyer do their part to get you the most compensation possible.
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