Protecting yourself after an injury in a car accident takes many forms. You want to protect yourself physically, financially, and legally. Below are tips to help protect yourself so you can ensure no other issues arise from the accident.
Take Pictures/Videos Of The Scene Immediately
You want to make sure that you are in a safe spot as some drivers get distracted by an accident and cause one themselves. Smartphones make it easy to get a video of the scene and potentially the behavior of the other driver. There is a chance they are impaired and how they act following the accident can support this.
Talk To The Officer Cautiously
The officer is going to want to know what happened to cause the accident. You are more than welcome to tell them that you are unsure as you could've been hit from the rear. Don't offer up information like you were upset or that you were driving tired. These facts are irrelevant especially if you were hit. Showing the officer a dashcam can be the best proof possible as some drivers have a front and rear camera.
Picking The Right Attorney
The right attorney can make this complicated process seem a bit simpler. The paperwork that would need to be filed to represent yourself will be tough for a person to complete correctly. A mistake in the submission of paperwork can lead to the case being dropped.
You want to contact an attorney quickly as you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit. The timeline of this is different for each state but you should probably do this immediately. You want witnesses to have the accident clear in their minds so no mistakes are made.
There are different fee structures when it comes to picking a personal injury attorney. Some might not charge at all until you are given a settlement. The issue with some lawyers is that they will only take cases that nearly anyone can win. Others might charge a bit upfront then take a percentage of the settlement. If you believe you have an easy case to win, checking out the fee structure should be a part of your research.
Overall Experience Battling Insurance Companies
Attorneys could have worked for insurance companies in the past. These individuals understand how these legal teams operate and the amounts they are willing to settle for. Others have years of experience battling legal teams from insurance companies so they understand which tactics work. The right attorney might even have a medical professional check you out right after the injury.
Previous Case Results
The truth is that a number of injury lawyers see similar cases all of the time. A Minneapolis car accident attorney at Halunen Law Firm notes on their website, "Distracted driving occurs when the driver's attention is on something other than the road. Whether texting, setting the navigation system, or selecting music, looking away from the road for even a moment can have disastrous results." You might find that the firm specializes in distracted driving cases and have quite a few case results. These case results might be proudly displayed on the website of the firm. Asking for case results is within your rights as you want to make sure settlements offered are large enough.
Trial Experience
Insurance companies know which attorneys and law firms always settle. A lower settlement offer is usually made to these professionals representing the case. The insurance company would rather avoid a trial as it can be costly. An attorney that is known for fighting cases to trial will likely be given a fair amount to settle. Taking the case to trial is still your choice if you feel like the settlement is not large enough.
Avoiding Social Media After The Accidentminn
Social media is a tool that a number of people use daily for various reasons. You should avoid social media or take a break from your accounts. You don't want a picture taken out of context to somehow disprove that you have been injured. This happens all too often as a person is seen lifting something with a bad back. Their back could be hurting but insurance companies will hire private investigators to watch people that have a claim out on them. Even pictures in the gym of people have been used even though they might have been doing exercises their physical therapist gave them.
Use the tips above to find the right lawyer and protect yourself after a car accident injury. You should not be financially responsible for your recovery if the other driver caused the accident. You will be suing the insurance company and not the individual which you should keep in mind.
