Top Mistakes After a Car Accident and How to Avoid Them

Making the wrong moves after a car accident can potentially derail your accident claim and prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve. Here are some of the top mistakes after a car accident and how you can avoid them:

Underestimating Your injuries

Many car accident victims think that their injuries aren’t that bad – until they start to get worse. They may fail to get checked out after an accident only to find out that they have a serious injury that will require medical treatment and cause them to miss work.

Underestimating your injuries can cause you to delay receiving medical treatment. This, in turn, can cause your recovery to be more difficult. You may have made your injury worse by postponing treatment and carrying on with everyday life activities. The insurance company might deny that your injury was due to the accident.

If you delay seeking medical treatment or otherwise downplay your injuries, it will be much harder for you to show that the accident caused your injuries.

If you’re hurt, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Keep all of your medical records and bills so that you can show how the collision affected you.

Waiting Too Long to Act

In Illinois, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, this does not mean that you should take a year and a half to take action on your case.

If you delay seeking medical treatment, it will be harder for you to document the expenses related to the accident.

If you wait to reach out to a lawyer, you might not be able to gather the crucial evidence that can help establish your claim.

Time is of the essence in personal injury cases, so do not wait too long to take action.

Giving Too Much Information to the Insurance Company

The insurance company trains its adjusters to try to get as much information from claimants as possible in the hopes that they will say the wrong thing to damage their claim.

Keep in mind that the insurance company employs insurance adjusters to save them money. Their job is to find anything to use against you. Don’t take the bait.

When making a claim, stick only to the facts.

• Do not try to guess the answer to something
• Don’t talk about your injuries other than to say you are seeking treatment
• Don’t admit fault
• And, certainly, don’t give a recorded statement.

Make the process easier on yourself by referring the insurance company to your lawyer. Let a lawyer handle these communications for you.

Not Gathering Evidence

While accidents can be disorienting, you may have only one chance to gather evidence to support your claim. This evidence can disappear shortly after an accident. If possible, try to:

• Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver
• Get the names and contact information of any witnesses at the scene
• Take pictures of the accident scene, damage to your vehicle, damage to the other vehicle, and the direction each vehicle was traveling
• Get a copy of the accident report

Agreeing to a Quick Car Accident Settlement

With bills piling up after a car accident, you might be tempted to take the first settlement offer the insurance company makes. However, quick settlements are rarely in car accident victims’ best interests.

You may not know the full extent of the harm you will suffer because of the accident. You might have more medical expenses and lost wages down the road. If you accept a settlement now, you will give up your right to additional compensation in the future.

Hire an experienced car accident lawyer who can fight for what you really deserve.

Talking About Your Claim on Social Media

Nothing is stopping the insurance adjuster from trolling your social media accounts and trying to find things to use against you. Something as innocuous as a smiling picture or a statement that you “are fine” can be misrepresented to try to show you were not really injured as much as you claim.

Try to stay off social media completely while your claim is pending. If that’s too much to ask, then avoid discussing anything related to your claim. Assume the insurance company can see everything you post.

An Experienced Chicago Car Accident Attorney Can Help Avoid These Mistakes

Another huge mistake that car accident victims make is thinking that they can handle their claim on their own. They might try to do so only to find out later that they need the help of a car accident lawyer in Chicago, but they may harm their claim by not reaching out early in the process. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you avoid these and other common mistakes. They have the knowledge and experience to push for the maximum compensation available for your claim.

The attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. can help protect your interests through every stage of your case. Our dedicated legal representation has resulted in more than $2 billion in compensation to our clients. We have the resources and skill to aggressively fight for our clients’ rights. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you through the claims process.