Three Things NOT to do after a Car Accident

Car accidents happen every day on area roadways, whether it is a fender bender or a serious collision. With so many accidents occurring on a regular basis, there is a chance that each individual will be involved in an accident at one time or another.

Attorney Charlie Contrada has posted information in the Contrada & Associates blog that car accident victims are able to use as a resource as they navigate through the car accident claim process. While this information is useful, the below three things are very important for everyone to know.  If you are involved in a car accident, do not do the following or you may jeopardize your car accident injury claim.

Don’t Do These 3 Things after a Car Accident:

1. Wait to get medical treatment – if you are involved in a car accident and you wait to receive medical treatment for possible injuries, it will reflect badly on your personal injury claim. For example, attorney Contrada has heard from many car accident victims in the past who claimed that they thought the discomfort in their neck or back after a car accident would go away, so they didn’t bother seeking medical attention. But, instead of their injuries getting better, they got worse, and by the time the individual went to the doctor, the legitimacy of their injury claims was being questioned. If you are injured, play it safe and see a medical professional after your accident to not only protect your health, but also to properly document the injuries sustained.
2. If there is any question as to who is at fault in causing an accident, do not give a statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Doing so could not help you, but it can hurt you if you say the wrong thing in the wrong way. Remember the insurance adjusters has a full-time job and that job is to pay you as little as possible. They go to school to learn how to ask questions to get you to answer the wrong way. Through no fault of your own, you could injure your claim by giving a statement to the insurance company without the advice of a lawyer.
3. Settle your claim quickly – while it may seem appealing to obtain the money from your settlement faster, it is not recommended to settle your car accident claim before you have completely recovered from your injuries, or have received a prognosis for the future. Medical treatments for injuries can often last much longer than anticipated, resulting in numerous medical expenses. It is best to wait until you have completed your treatment and are back to normal before you settle, or you may find yourself with medical bills that are above and beyond your settlement amount.  If you do not fully recover, but you receive prognosis for the future, it will enable to settlement to account for all future expenses brought on by your condition, including future procedures, doctor visits, physical and occupational therapy sessions, and more.

Remember THIS after Your Car Accident                 

Now that you know the three things that you should not do after a car accident, attorney Charlie Contrada leaves you with two things that you should do – receive medical attention and seek legal advice.

If a car accident victim seeks legal advice from an experienced attorney after their accident, it is likely that they will not do any of the above things that are noted as “bad” for your settlement. When a knowledgeable attorney is representing a client, they make sure that all of the necessary steps are taken to ultimately result in a favorable settlement. To receive legal guidance from attorney Charlie Contrada regarding your car accident, call Contrada & Associates at 419.841.4400.