There are certain things you should do after you’ve been in a car accident. Likewise, there are specific mistakes that many injury victims make in the days, weeks, and months following the crash. These mistakes can potentially jeopardize your car accident claim.
Just as you should know what to do after a car accident, you should also know what you should avoid in these situations.
Declining To Get Medical Treatment
When car accidents happen, your adrenaline will surge and activate your fight-or-flight response. In these moments, you may mistakenly think that you are not injured. You may chalk up your uncomfortable sensations to be normal because of what just happened.
However, this is a dangerous thing to do because some injuries don’t leave visible marks. You don’t need to have broken bones or bleeding wounds to be seriously injured in an auto accident. Traumatic brain injuries and internal organ damage are common after major car crashes, and you may not have any symptoms from them for hours or days.
Don’t avoid medical treatment even if you think you’re not hurt. Let the doctors check you out and be certain of it first. If you’re injured, you’ll get the treatment you need and if not, you can walk away feeling like the luckiest person on the planet.
Telling All To The Other Driver’s Insurance Carrier
Your auto insurance company will need to know about the accident, even if you were not at fault. This is because the other driver may try to claim you were the one to blame, and in Tennessee, the fault laws will require both sides to launch an investigation into the truth.
You may feel confident that you did everything right, but you may be assigned some blame. You could make things much worse for yourself if you speak to the other driver’s insurance company. You’re not obligated to talk to them, and while they will act concerned and caring, it’s just a fishing expedition to try to get information to use against you.
Making Social Media Posts About Your Crash
In today’s society, everyone posts the most intimate details about their lives online. When you’ve been in an accident, you should not post anything about it. Talking about the accident to others could compromise your case. Posting on social media can also be used against you in a variety of ways, and it could wind up costing you your full compensation.
Taking The First Settlement Offer
It’s certainly tempting when you are offered a settlement for your car accident soon after the unfortunate event. However, you should first check to see if the amount is sufficient to cover your medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and other damages.
Most accident victims do not think about the cost of future medical bills from their injuries. Often, they don’t realize that the pain and suffering they endure can also be compensated for. It is to your benefit to discuss your case with a personal injury attorney to find out if what you’re being offered is fair.
Filing Too Late
When it comes to car accidents and other personal injury accidents, there are statutes of limitations. They provide a time limit for seeking compensation through a lawsuit.
Tennessee has a short statute of limitations at just one year from the date of the crash. You need to act quickly if you plan to pursue compensation from the other driver or any other involved party.
The shorter statute of limitations does have some benefits. It is always best to move forward with a lawsuit as soon as possible after a personal injury incident. Evidence is more likely to disappear the longer you wait, and witnesses could move away or forget all the details that could be helpful in your case.
Thinking You Don’t Need Legal Representation
While it is true that you do not need to have a lawyer represent you in a car accident case, it’s often a huge mistake to represent yourself. Most people lack knowledge about the laws in their state. If your injuries are serious, it will be to your advantage to consult with Nashville car accident claim lawyers.
With a lawyer on your side, you’ll have someone who can start investigating the accident and gathering evidence to help get you compensation. An attorney will stand up for you, allowing you to focus on recovering your health. It’s worth it to speak with a lawyer during a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal options.