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!

After an accident you can feel frightened, hurt, and confused. The very first thing you should do is always to 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? Moore Law suggests the following Top 5 Things To Do After An Accident that can improve your chances of getting the compensation owed you if you are not at fault in your personal injury accident.

1. Seek medical treatment right away.

Don’t let fear of non-payment or low funds stop you from getting the medical attention you need. Many clients try to tough it out and unknowingly diminish the amount of their recovery greatly. It is hard to substantiate real pain without the medical notes and visits to prove it.

2. Contact an attorney sooner rather than later.

While clients can still get help after a failed DIY representation of themselves, often their settlements will be many times less than the original potential. This is in part to the sneaky tactics employed by insurance adjusters, and in part due to the lack of medical treatment plan and lien negotiation provided by an experienced personal injury attorney.

3. Obtain a copy of the police report and photograph/diagram the accident.

Good records only strengthen the investigation process and make it hard to refute your claims. And while words can be powerful advocates for your case, pictures are truly worth a thousand words. Both written statements and pictures should be taken in a timely manner and a good attorney will help you do so.

4. Review the insurance policies with an attorney.

Insurance policies are known for being laden with “legalese”, making them difficult to understand and even harder to argue. A personal injury attorney is familiar with the content of insurance policies and the loopholes that companies often try to sneak through to avoid payment. And did you know that your own insurance policy might have coverage that can help you even when you are not at fault? Arizona, specifically, requires uninsured motorist coverage is offered. Your lawyer can help you with these and other specialized insurance coverage issues.

5. Continue with a medical treatment plan until full recovery.

When receiving medical treatment for a serious injury, many people are faced with mounting economic and financial strain. A favorite tactic used to lessen the amount of final settlement is to delay the claim processing, with hopes that the slow process and climbing stress with weaken a claimant’s resolve for justice. An attorney can help you resolve or delay payments and give you the support you need to finish your treatment and secure a full settlement that has seen to your true recovery.

If you need help after a car accident, contact a qualified personal injury attorney and get advice and help you can count on.