Advice for protecting your rights and securing compensation after an auto accident
If you have been in a car accident involving injuries or property damage, you need to be very careful how you respond. Downplaying your injuries at the scene, admitting fault, or agreeing to let the party who caused the accident provide a small amount of compensation can all limit your ability to seek full compensation for all your damages later on. Your best bet is to say as little as possible at the scene and then make these sure three vital phone calls happen.
Call 911
Obviously, if there have been any injuries someone needs to call 911. This will ensure that the police and EMTs are sent to the scene. Anyone who is injured will be able to get the care that they need, and at the same time their injuries will be documented by health care professionals. This helps to create the first piece of evidence in the chain needed to prove a need for compensation for medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, etc. Even if there were no injuries, calling the police is still a very good idea, as the initial accident report can be used to support your version of how the accident occurred.
Call Your Auto Accident Attorney
For many people, the next instinct would be to call the insurance company. However, considering that the insurance company probably wants to pay as little as possible, you should think twice about this. If you call your insurance agent, they’ll immediately start peppering you with questions about the accident and in your stressed state you may make misstatements that the insurance company can use to lessen the value of your claim or dismiss it altogether. Once these kinds of complications enter your case, it becomes much more difficult to get your compensation. That’s why you should always call your auto accident attorney before your insurance agent. Your attorney will be able to advise you on your next steps, which will likely include securing contact and insurance information from all the parties involved in the accident, documenting the scene with photographs, and identifying any eyewitnesses.
Have Your Attorney Call Your Insurance Agent
Your insurance agent does need to be contacted by you after an accident, but it is highly recommended that you allow your attorney to make this call for you. That way, you can make sure the insurance company is provided with the information they need without worrying that you’ll make a mistake answering a question and ruin or complicate your chance of getting the full compensation you deserve. If your insurance company or the responsible party’s insurance company contacts you directly, simply refer them to your attorney, who will be happy to speak for you. By speaking for you, your attorney will avoid costly mistakes, protect your rights, and help you get the largest possible settlement.
