When you are injured in a car accident, everything that happens from the moment you leave your vehicle matters. Everything you say and do can fall under scrutiny, and savvy insurance adjusters will look for every excuse to poke holes in your claim.
Ways You Can Protect Your Car Accident Injury Compensation
Protecting what you can recover in compensation from a car accident injury claim is crucial, but it requires proactive measures. By doing what’s essential to support your claim while limiting what may harm it, your chances of receiving the maximum possible compensation for your claim can remain within reach.
Never Admit Fault for an Accident
While you should take all of these tips seriously, above all else, never admit fault. One of the most common ways people can unintentionally sabotage their car accident personal injury claims is by admitting any amount of fault for the collision.
In addition to never outright admitting fault for an accident, you should also avoid making any sort of indication that you even think you were at fault for the accident. This means that you shouldn’t apologize to the other driver for what happened or speculate on how any of your decisions could have contributed to the accident.
Call 9-1-1 If Anyone Is Injured
Immediately after an accident happens, call 9-1-1 if anyone complains of a possible injury. This can demonstrate that an injury was serious enough at the scene of the accident to require immediate medical attention, which can be helpful for your future injury claim.
Seek Medical Treatment
After you received emergency medical treatment, schedule an appointment with your doctor. This is an important step to take because various diagnostic methods can reveal injuries that may not be visible or those you may not yet feel. You can also preclude any claims that you waited a long time to seek such treatment, so your injuries aren’t as severe as you may later claim.
Never Say You’re ‘Fine’ or Uninjured
Just as you should never admit fault for the accident, never say you aren’t injured. Our bodies go through a lot of chemical changes during an event such as a car accident. Hormones, such as adrenaline, put our bodies in a “survival state” that can dull pain.
The effects of adrenaline, however, wear off a few hours or up to a few days later. This means that someone could be seriously injured by a car accident but not know it until the adrenaline dies down.
Collect the Other Driver’s Information
Make sure you get all of the driver’s relevant information at the scene of the accident. That means the information on their driver’s license, insurance information, and contact information.
Without these details, you may find it difficult or even impossible to pursue a personal injury claim against them or their insurance company – and all simply because you may not have enough information to identify a responsible party later.
Collect Evidence at the Scene of the Accident
To increase the odds of a successful car accident claim, you’ll need to have enough evidence that supports your version of what happened. That means you should collect evidence at the scene of the accident such as photos, videos, and witness contact information.
For example, be sure to take detailed photos of each car’s damage as well as photos or videos that show the overall scene of the accident. You should also make note of weather conditions, the nearest crossroads, and any road signs that may be in the immediate area.
Document Your Injuries
If your injuries are apparent, take photos and videos of them as soon as possible. For example, you may have received stitches from a laceration you received from broken glass – be sure to document this! You can also take photos of swelling and discoloration from bruises left by your seatbelt. If there is any physical evidence of your injuries, document it before it heals beyond recognition.
Don’t Post Anything About Your Accident on Social Media
Even if your social media accounts are private, you never know who knows who – and who may be looking for evidence to use against you. Protecting your chances of recovering compensation for a car accident injury means refraining from posting about it on social media.
If you are concerned about letting loved ones know you’re ok, consider giving them a call – but you still should avoid going into detail in case a friend or family member is subpoenaed.
Call an Attorney After Your Car Accident
As soon as you receive emergency medical treatment and leave the car accident scene, contact an experienced car accident injury lawyer for help. Someone such as attorney David F. Paulsen of the Paulsen Law Group can provide you with the legal support you need to pursue your claim.
We at the Paulsen Law Group offer our clients a personalized experience that can help them feel more confident about the personal injury claim process. If you would like to learn more about how we can assist you with your claim, reach out to us today to schedule an initial consultation.
Contact Paulsen Law Group online now for more information.