Were you just in a car accident? This is an upsetting time and it’s important to take care of your injuries as soon as you can. Also, remember to talk to a car accident lawyer in Portland Oregon soon.
Another piece of advice: Don’t make the following mistakes after a car accident.
Don’t Underestimate Your Injuries: There is a tendency after a car accident to say you’re ok and you aren’t hurt. But if you say that to the other driver and to witnesses, it can complicate your settlement negotiations later.
Anyone who heard you says you weren’t hurt could tell the defense attorney that you said you weren’t hurt. This could make the insurance company deny any claim you make.
Also, saying you aren’t hurt may mean you don’t seek medical attention. It could turn out you have injuries that get worse because you don’t get medical help right away.
Don’t Wait To Seek Medical Attention: When the police and first responders come to the accident, it’s smart to get medically checked out to see if you have injuries. It’s common for the adrenaline to be flowing after the accident, and you may not feel any pain.
But after a day or so, the adrenaline rush will fade and you could find yourself in a lot of pain. And if you wait, it could be too late to document your injuries and connect them to the accident.
Imagine if you have serious injuries and can’t go to work. But you waited to seek medical treatment so now you can’t get compensation for your injuries.
Don’t Wait: After the accident, you may want to just wait to do things because you want to focus on feeling better. This is understandable but it may be a mistake.
Here are some things you shouldn’t wait on after an accident:
- If you delay medical care, you don’t have full documentation of your injuries for settlement negotiations.
- If you wait to have the crash investigated, essential evidence may disappear. And remember that witness memories are best in the first few hours after the crash. They may not remember as much if you wait.
- If you wait to talk to a car accident lawyer in Portland Oregon, you could have trouble finding a good attorney to take the case later. The best attorneys want plenty of time to prepare your case.
- If you wait too long to file the lawsuit, the statute of limitations may run out.
In many states, you have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, so make sure you never wait to talk to an attorney.
None of this is to rush you and make you anxious after your accident. But you should take care of these issues promptly to ensure you have the best possible care and recovery.
Don’t Give the Insurance Company Too Much Information: Don’t think any insurance company is your friend, including your own. Of course, you need to give your insurance company all the information they ask for so you can get the accident covered if it’s necessary.
The major issue is when accident victims are too open and honest with the other insurance company. There are many things you can say that unwittingly damage your case.
Remember to talk to a car accident lawyer Portland Oregon for the best possible outcome for your case.
Herron Law Firm 