Being involved in a car accident, particularly if you or someone else is hurt, can be stressful enough on its own.
Dealing with injuries, auto repairs, lost work, and insurance calls can all take a toll. The problems can spiral out of control if you’re sidelined without a way to pay for medical care, rent, and other things. It’s easy to assume that the claims process will “work itself out.”
However, many accident victims make critical mistakes early in the process without realizing it, which can cost them thousands of dollars or even their entire claims.
Being involved in a car accident claim is not as easy as it seems. The insurance company has its own priorities — and compensating you is low on that list. That’s why it’s essential to hire a personal injury lawyer with a proven track record of securing fair compensation for their clients.
Here are four of the biggest mistakes accident victims make with car accident claims and what they should really know.
1. Thinking the Insurance Company Is On Their Side
One of the biggest mistakes accident victims make with car accident claims is thinking the insurance company is on their side. The reality is that insurance companies don’t fork over fair compensation amounts without personal injury lawyers who hold their proverbial feet to the fire.
The insurance company and the insurance adjuster are not there just to help the victim. While insurance adjusters may seem friendly and eager to help, they’re there for one reason: to protect the insurance company’s bottom line.
This can often involve minimizing claims, disputing the severity of injuries, or offering early settlement options before the true impact of the accidents can be determined.
If you hire the right legal professional, you can be sure that your lawyer will put out all the stops to ensure you get treated fairly. The insurers might not be on your side — but your lawyer will be.
2. Thinking Minor Injuries Don’t Matter
Another error is underestimating the severity of injuries, especially in the days following the accident. Injured parties may think that the pain, stiffness, or minor aches will go away with time.
However, the problem with this is that injuries such as whiplash or concussion may not always display obvious symptoms right away. If you face this scenario, make an appointment to see your doctor. Failing to do so can jeopardize your personal injury claim since the insurance company may claim that the delayed or skipped visit to the doctor means the injuries are minor.
3. Believing Fault is Always Clear-Cut
Another error is believing that the accident was clearly the other driver’s fault. This may be especially true if the other driver received a ticket or confessed to the crime. The problem is that fault determination is more complex than it appears.
For instance, an insurer’s determination of who is at fault might not match the police’s determination of who caused the accident. That’s one reason to avoid speaking directly to the insurer — let your lawyer do the talking on your behalf.
4. Waiting Too Long to Pursue a Personal Injury Claim
Injured parties shouldn’t wait too long to pursue personal injury claims if they’re injured in accidents. Waiting too long could mean forfeiting the opportunity to launch lawsuits and get the compensation needed to pay for treatment.
There are strict time limits, referred to as statutes of limitations, in place for filing car accident claims. Failure to meet these time limits may result in the claim being forfeited.
Finally, delays may also mean that the claim may be weakened in the eyes of the insurance company, which may claim that the injuries were not severe enough or that the victim didn’t take the situation seriously enough. What you don’t want to do is strengthen the insurer’s case against you while weakening your own claim.
It’s safe to say that car accident claims are far more complex than most people realize, especially for those new to the process. Meanwhile, it’s also safe to say that many victims of car accidents have misconceptions about insurance companies, injuries, fault, claim value, and timing, all of which can undermine their claim.
While no one ever plans on being in a car accident, knowing these common mistakes can help victims of car accidents avoid pitfalls and place themselves in the best position to recover from their accident, both physically, financially, and emotionally.
You’ll want to know what to do and what not to do if, despite your best efforts, you’re hurt in an accident.
