Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You Get the Compensation You Need
Attorneys for car accidents work with insurance companies to receive compensation for damage and losses. They can also help you discover other options for compensation, such as uninsured motorist insurance.
If you've been involved in a car accident, it's important to take the following steps: Prioritize safety by calling 911, examining for injuries, and recording the scene. Exchange contact information, insurance policy numbers and witness statements with other parties.
Don't Admit Fault
You could lose your case if you admit to fault with an insurer, even if it is just a small amount. The insurer could alter your statements and use them against you to reduce your settlement and/or claim that your injuries aren't connected to the accident. You should always prioritize your security and seek medical treatment following a crash, before making any statements to anyone other than the police or your doctor.
When police arrive at the scene of an accident they will ask you questions regarding the incident and scrutinize your vehicle and the vehicle of the other driver. Answer these questions honestly and only give details about how the accident happened. You should not discuss what you consider to be the cause of the accident, or make any statements that could be considered to be an admission of guilt.
Following a car accident after a crash, you should call the authorities to request an official police report or vehicle crash report. This will record the incident and permit an investigation to determine the factors that led to the accident. It is also crucial to exchange all the information with other parties, including their names, addresses, phone numbers, insurance policy numbers license plate numbers, and insurance information. Take pictures of any injuries that you may suffer or the scene of an accident, as well as any damage to your vehicle or other vehicles.
New York's no-fault insurance system covers the cost of economic losses, such as medical expenses and lost wages up to $50,000 per person. However, this doesn't cover non-economic damages such as suffering and pain and pain and suffering, which is why it's important to consult an attorney whenever you can.
Your attorney can help you learn about the limitations and coverage of no-fault insurance to ensure that you get compensation for the losses. They can also tell you if the party at fault might be responsible for your non-economic damages when the extent of your injuries surpasses the threshold of serious injury set by the state.
Don't Talk to the Insurance Company
After a car accident you could be contact by the other driver's insurance company. Whether they are being courteous or not they are looking for anything they can use to deny or decrease your claim. They will try to get you to admit that you are at fault or to say something that gives them an excuse to blame you for the crash.
In addition, they will ask you to sign a recorded statement. Lawyers will usually check these statements to see if they are any contradictions. They may use these against you during trial. You may not be aware that you've said something that could hurt your case until the insurance company begins looking up your past statements.
You should not make contact with the insurance company prior to consulting with your lawyer. Even if you think it is evident that the other driver was the one to blame You should let your attorney handle the communication with the insurance company. This will protect your rights.
Avoid discussing the incident with anyone else. This includes family members as well as friends and colleagues. It is easy to share information that could damage your case. Even if the information they share isn't directly connected to the crash, it can harm your credibility and undermine your case.
If you do have to talk to people, make sure you give the insurance company the information they need. Include the names, contact information, and insurance policy numbers of all witnesses to the accident. Additionally you must not discuss your injuries with them. Folsom accident lawyers is not just wrong but could also cause further harm to your health.
It is important that you seek medical attention immediately in the event that you've been injured in a car accident. This will not only guarantee that your injuries are documented properly as well, but aid in recovering the maximum amount of compensation available for the damages you sustained. This includes future expected medical costs including pain and suffering and a diminished quality of life. Our skilled lawyers will be able to review your case and determine the kinds of damages you are qualified for.
Don't Sign Any Paperwork
If you're injured in a crash the last thing on your mind is chasing after insurance companies and filling out forms. However, when you visit the doctor and feel some pains and aches it's easy to become distracted by the plethora of paperwork and forms that are handed out to you by company representatives and insurance adjusters.
Often, these papers ask you to sign an authorization release that grants them access to all your medical records throughout your entire life. This gives access to your private information, before doctors can determine the extent of your injuries. They may also try to claim that the symptoms you are experiencing are not due to the accident.
A lawyer with expertise in personal injury law will go over all documents provided to you by the insurance company and ensure that they're correct and complete. He or she can also tell you if they are valid and how they could affect your case. Insurance companies often offer a quick settlement, and you may be tempted to accept.
If you've enlisted an experienced attorney for your car accident they'll handle the communications with the insurance company and will make sure that you don't sign anything that could jeopardize the entire case. They will then fight to get the maximum compensation you're entitled to for your losses and injuries.
You should also avoid giving any written or oral statements to the insurance company because they are trained to get you to say something that could be used against you. They'll twist your words and use them to reduce the value of your claim, or even deny it completely.
Insurance companies can attempt to trick you by claiming that you haven't declared all your expenses. This is a violation of law. Contact an attorney as soon as you can after a collision to ensure that they can defend your rights and handle all correspondence with the insurance company.
Don't take pictures
When you have an accident, it can be hard to remember details of the scene. This is the reason it's so important to use your mobile phone camera to record every detail you observe. You don't need a professional camera to capture photos of the scene. You can also time stamp your photographs to stop the opposing party from claiming that the damage was caused by the accident.
Also, you should take photos of the vehicles involved in the accident from a variety of angles. This will assist your accident lawyer to prove the location of each vehicle at the time of the collision, as in proving the severity of the damage. If you can capture photos of the vehicles from the outside and inside, as well as front, and side. Make sure you take pictures of any visible injuries you or your passengers may have sustained.
Request the names and contact information of any witnesses you might see. Your lawyer will need witnesses if your case goes to trial. It is not uncommon for a defense attorney to claim that the witness didn't witness the incident. You must have their contact information and name on the file.
It is not advisable to share any information about your accident on social media. This is because the other party and their insurance company can use it to argue that your injuries were not as serious as you claim or that they didn't cause the accident.