The Do’s and Don’ts of Car Accident Claims

No one ever plans on being in a car accident, but the truth is that it’s very likely that you will be involved in one at some point in your life. Because of this, it’s important to know what to do and what not to do if you ever file a car accident claim to recover compensation for your injuries. Here are the do’s and don’ts of car accident claims:

Don’t: Give A Statement
An insurance adjuster from the at-fault party’s insurance company will contact you shortly after the accident. During this initial conversation, the insurance adjuster may ask if you are willing to give a statement regarding the events leading up to the accident. Do not agree to give a statement until you have talked to an attorney. Anything you say in the statement can be twisted around and used against you later on in the case, so politely decline until you have hired an attorney.

Do: Keep Track of Expenses
The at-fault party’s insurance company is responsible for reimbursing you for medical expenses that you incurred as a result of your injuries. However, you should never expect an insurance adjuster to write a check unless you have provided proof of the expenses. Keep track of every injury-related expense by holding onto physical copies of receipts, scanning them onto your computer, or taking photos of them.

Don’t: Accept An Offer Right Away
If the at-fault party’s insurance company makes an offer right away, do not accept it before speaking with an attorney. Immediately following an accident, there’s no way for you to know how badly you are injured, how long you will need to be treated, and whether or not you should expect to miss work. The insurance company will only make an offer right away if they think they can pressure you into accepting it before you realize what your case is worth. Don’t fall for this trick.

Do: Tell the Truth
Some car accident victims think they can recover more compensation by exaggerating the severity of their injuries or their symptoms, but this is not the case. Insurance adjusters conduct thorough investigations before paying car accident victims, so if something is not adding up, they will find it. If the insurance adjuster believes you are being dishonest, it will be even harder to recover the compensation you deserve.

If you have been injured in a car accident, contact personal injury attorney James Rush at Rush Injury Law as soon as possible. James Rush will guide you through the process of recovering compensation through a car accident claim. Contact our office by calling 415-897-4801 or filling out the online form on our website www.rushinjurylaw.com to request a free consultation.