Being the victim of a car crash that wasn’t your fault can completely change your world. Victims face multiple challenges, from learning how to cope with their injuries to mounting medical bills.
Severe injuries are common in car accidents, and many could cost victims weeks or months without the ability to earn a living. Insurance company settlements can help to ease their financial burdens, but many accident victims sometimes sabotage their personal injury cases.
If you’ve been the unfortunate victim of an accident that caused major injuries that have completely disrupted your life, a law car accident attorney is available to help you get your life back on track. Give them a call today and schedule a free consultation to discuss your options.
6 Factors That Can Impact the Value of Your Car Accident Compensation
When seeking compensation for a car accident, victims need to do everything possible to ensure they receive the maximum compensation allowable. Unfortunately, some make mistakes and errors of judgment that can devalue their personal injury claim. What may seem harmless or the thing to do sometimes is the exact opposite.
Victims of car accidents that are seeking compensation for damages can greatly benefit by adhering to the following not-to-do suggestions. To receive the best compensation, it’s crucial not to step alone. Insurance companies will use every available misstep of yours to limit their liability.
1. Waiting Too Long to File a Lawsuit
After a car crash, your top priority is to take care of your injuries. Your medical treatment and recovery should be of the utmost importance. However, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid filing a personal injury lawsuit until you’re back to being as good as you can possibly be.
Washington’s personal injury statute of limitations is 3 years. This means the legal clock starts ticking on the day of the accident or when you discover your injuries.
If you seek compensation after this time, you’ll have no legal recourse for recovering your damages, even if you were incapacitated from your injuries for years.
2. Not Seeking or Continuing Medical Treatment
Delaying, postponing, or discontinuing ongoing medical treatment is a huge red flag to insurance companies. To file a successful claim, you must prove that the accident caused you severe harm and anything that signals otherwise will be held against you. Medical treatment should be sought immediately after an accident or within a few days.
Not following your doctor’s medical orders can severely hurt your case. As much as you’d like to postpone a particularly unpleasant procedure, doing so will not help you receive the compensation you deserve.
3. Not Hiring an Attorney
Even the most slam-dunk car accident cases aren’t as easy to prove as one might think. Washington’s legal labyrinth of laws and regulations can be difficult for a novice. Without the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney, victims could easily find themselves lost in the process.
Most Washington personal injury attorneys will take your case on a contingency basis, meaning you won’t have to spend any upfront money to retain their services. Your lawyer will be paid a percentage of your settlement.
4. Accepting the First Settlement Offer
The role of an insurance company is to limit liability. They’re not working on your behalf, and even the kindest insurance company negotiator isn’t going to offer you what your case is worth.
Some can be ruthless and tell you, “This is our one and only offer,” if you’re without legal counsel, you’ll quickly sign on the dotted line, leaving money on the table.
Victims of car accidents should never accept an insurance company’s first settlement offer. It’s almost always a lowball amount, regardless of how much they offer you.
5. Social Media Mistakes
Many of us have become comfortable airing our complaints on social media. Along with complaining about our mishaps, we also share our good times.
When dealing with a personal injury lawsuit, it’s best to keep your personal life personal and refrain from posting about the accident or the lawsuit. Insurance companies could use that photo of you having a good time at your niece’s birthday party as proof that you’re life hasn’t been disrupted.
6. Making a Recorded Statement
Insurance companies are no strangers to contacting car accident victims under the guise of allowing them to present their side of the story. What may seem like a good opportunity to state your case could turn into leading questions meant to trip you up into saying something that can be used against you.
Never agree to speak to the insurance company or make a recorded statement unless told to do so by your attorney. If contacted, politely refer them to your lawyer and do not answer any questions.
Don’t Make These Common Mistakes When Seeking Car Accident Compensation!
For first-time car accident victims, making an honest mistake that can completely sabotage your personal injury case can be far too easy. Discussing it on your socials or permitting the insurance company to record a personal statement are two things that may seem harmless but are quite harmful to your case.
The best course of action is to hire a personal injury attorney who can guide you through a car crash lawsuit’s many dos and don’ts. Don’t be caught off guard and lose out on a larger settlement. Work with an experienced lawyer to help you get the money you deserve.
