As we discussed in the previous post, Top 5 Things To Do After An Accident, an accident usually leaves you feeling frightened, hurt, and confused. The very first thing you should always do is call 911 and get the needed emergency response teams to the accident scene as soon as possible. After that and the obligatory exchanging of insurance information between parties, the road to take gets a little hazy. What next?

While taking action in a situation is usually a good idea, sometimes it is just as important to understand what NOT to do. Moore Law suggests avoiding the following five things that can hurt your chances of getting the compensation owed you from your personal injury accident.

1. Never give a recorded or written statement to the insurance company unless instructed to do so by a personal injury attorney.

Insurance adjusters often pose seemingly harmless questions to get you to say something that will diminish your case.

2. Never sign a general medical authorization without an attorney’s consent.

Doing so will allow the company to dig into your personal medical history for anything that could potentially damage your case; no insurance company needs any medical records before going to trial.

3. Never cash a check from an insurance company without discussing it with your attorney first.

Some checks have a final release clause carefully placed within them; cashing one releases the company from further liability even if your injuries turn out to be much more serious than initially recognized.

4. Never accept settlement until you are completely finished with medical treatment.

Often injuries incurred during an accident take some time to fully come to light. That sore spot may be identified as a ruptured vertebrae or the “temporary” nerve pain in your shoulder may prove to be a lifelong companion. Don’t short change yourself from getting the fair value for your injuries by rashly accepting payment before you have completed your medical treatment plan. Your necessary medical treatment should be decided by a trained medical doctor, not an insurance company with a chart.

5. Never act in opposition to the injuries you are claiming.

Private investigators are often hired to follow and record claimants so be aware that you could be being watched. While honesty is always the best policy and we never recommend claiming false injuries, be aware that context can often be manipulated to diminish your case and choose your activities accordingly.

Contact a qualified personal injury attorney for more information and to discuss the details of your case. Moore Law offers free consultations for injury cases. Find our free consultation request form here.

Safe travels!