Car accidents leave victims emotionally and physically drained. Individuals sustain multiple injuries and have to opt for years of therapy to return to their normal state. All these processes not only affect you mentally but also negatively influence your bank balance.
Therapy is expensive, and not every person is financially stable enough to afford costly treatment. So your only choice is to seek help from state courts.
Instead of suffering in silence, fight for your rights in court. The person at fault should pay for their mistake. You can achieve your aim by hiring an attorney and presenting the matter in court.
However, before moving forward, don’t make these common mistakes. Sometimes, a few unintentional blunders weaken your accident claim and make you lose all your compensation. So under all circumstances, avoid making these mistakes.
Not Immediately Hiring an Attorney
Keep in mind that after a crash, your only true friend will be your attorney. That’s right. Having a legal expert by your side could save you from further damage. Most importantly, these professionals help you get justice in court.
According to experienced personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles, “Attorneys assist you in getting the best possible results. They work hard at every step to ensure you get compensation for all your injuries and traumas.”
So, find an experienced lawyer the minute you gain consciousness. Once you have a legal expert to guide you, you will not make unintentional mistakes. Moreover, these experts monitor your communication with insurance companies to make sure you are not exploited at any step.
Therefore, never make the mistake of skipping out on an attorney. You haven’t fought court cases like attorneys. So, keep these professionals in the loop.
Not Obtaining an Official Police Report
Your claim gains strength when you present the official police report along with other pieces of evidence. This report could add weight to your case.
After any crash, investigating officers reach the scene and record all their observations. From how the collision occurred to the person at fault, they note down several things. Afterward, they generate a police report mentioning incidents related to the crime scene.
When a victim provides this report in front of the jury and judges, it acts as a piece of evidence that support their arguments. Sadly, people believe these reports have no significant weightage, but they are mistaken.
Everyone believes a police report to be a crucial piece of evidence. After all, the people preparing it are state officials.
Their findings could help you find the culprit or recreate the accident scene. You can easily get the report from the nearest station.
Delaying Medical Help
Not getting timely medical help is another mistake. A crash, no matter how minor, leaves you with some form of injury. These need attention, which is only possible in a hospital or clinic.
Sadly, several victims ignore their injuries. That makes their case weaker. Your treatment records are a substantial piece of evidence in your case. They prove your physical suffering which supports your claim in court.
When someone delays their visit to the doctor, they risk making their case weak. The opposition could claim that your injuries were not a result of the crash or that the intensity of the injuries isn’t significant.
In such circumstances, making others believe in you will be tough. So, a visit to the hospital should be your priority. You could visit a local doctor or even a family practitioner. Just keep the test results with you as medical evidence.
Every single test report matters a lot in such accident cases.
Not Documenting the Scenes after the Crash
One should never make the mistake of not documenting things after the crash. No doubt your condition after the accident will be miserable, but, if possible, you should take some photos of the accident site, your injuries, and your damaged vehicle.
Moreover, you could take contact details of eyewitnesses around you. All these photos and documentation support your claim. Even the opposition could not do anything in such matters.
In addition, these pieces of evidence also increase your chances of winning. So, if possible, take a few pictures, get a few statements, and keep them with you till you hire a lawyer.
Admitting Fault
Sometimes, a crash isn’t the fault of just one party. Multiple parties, including you, could be responsible. However, that doesn’t mean you start admitting to people that it was your mistake. It is better to stay silent even if you had a minor role in the crash.
If you admit fault to anyone or issue an apology, the other party will use your statement against you. Their lawyers might even pin the entire blame on you. So, keep calm and quiet.
Don’t talk to anyone in your attorney’s absence. Anything you say could prevent you from winning your claim.
