Being in a car accident can leave you feeling scared and overwhelmed. An overall feeling of uncertainty can lead you to make mistakes that could not only affect your ability to pursue compensation, but that could also affect your health. Work with an experienced car accident lawyer to avoid some of these common car accident mistakes.
Call us today at (702) 878-2889 to discuss what steps you should take with an experienced car accident lawyer following your car accident.
Never Leave the Scene of the Accident Without Reporting It
When you leave the scene of an accident, you are committing an illegal act that could lead to additional charges. Additionally, you could lose out on valuable information that you need, including the contact and insurance information of the other driver. If you do not require immediate medical care, you could help your case by beginning to collect evidence. Use your phone to capture photos or videos from the scene of the accident. Gather the contact information of any witnesses.
Don’t Skip Calling the Police
You might feel like calling the police to report a car accident is not necessary, especially if it is a minor fender bender. However, filing a police report is important to document your case. This is necessary in building your case, should you need to seek compensation for your injuries. Police also do a lot of the required investigative work, including taking images of the accident or talking with witnesses. Also, police will look closely at the details of the accident and they may issue a traffic violation to the other driver. If they do, this could be valuable to your case.
Even if you receive the ticket, this does not necessarily mean that you are responsible for the accident. Depending on the details of the accident, you may be able to fight the ticket.
Never Admit Fault or Apologize
Things are not always as they seem at the scene of an accident. Always avoid admitting fault because it can be used against you later. While it might seem appropriate at the time, never apologize, or admit to a wrongdoing to the other driver, or the responding police. Even if you believe that you are to blame, it is best to not say anything. Let a car accident lawyer do the talking for you.
This also means being careful about what you say to the insurance company. What you communicate to the insurance company can affect whether or not they will cover your car accident costs. Insurance companies will often minimize your damages in an attempt to reduce how much they have to cover. It is important to be truthful, without accepting blame for the accident. In fact, it can be helpful to leave negotiations to your legal representation.
Never Skip Medical Care
You might feel fine, but that does not mean that you are. The adrenaline from a sudden impact can mask your injuries. When you put off medical care, you could risk your life. Additionally, if you go home and then begin to experience pains, it will be difficult to connect your injury to the car accident.
Medical records and documents are crucial when building a personal injury case. Make sure you keep track of all doctor reports, bills, diagnostics, and imaging.
Don’t Pursue Compensation Alone
It might seem obvious who is to blame for the car accident, so you might initially attempt to pursue compensation without representation. However, you never know what defense the responsible party will attempt. They may try to place some of the blame on you, reducing the compensation that you receive. You need a lawyer who will represent you and your best interests.
Additionally, the guidance of an experienced lawyer who can handle all communications and negotiations, while you focus on your recovery, is valuable. Working with a car accident lawyer can also lead to a higher valuation of your case. Insurance companies may attempt to offer you a settlement that does not fully cover your costs and then push you into accepting it. A lawyer can help you value your case and determine what a fair settlement amount. By using experienced negotiation skills, your lawyer will use collected evidence to get you the maximum compensation amount possible.
Avoid Common Mistakes With an Experienced Lawyer
You can avoid some of the most common missteps following a car accident by working with a lawyer who is familiar with Nevada laws. We fight for the legal rights of our clients, ensuring that they receive fair compensation to help them recover from their injuries. Call our Vegas personal injury lawyers today at (702) 878-2889 to discuss your case in further detail.