If you have been involved in a car accident, you may not be thinking clearly. Along with your vehicle being damaged, you’ve likely suffered physical injuries, and you’ll probably be unable to work for a period of time. While this can no doubt be a stressful time, it can become more stressful and frustrating if you make certain mistakes while filing your car accident claim. To learn more about this, here are some mistakes you should always avoid when filing your claim.
Talking to Insurance Company
In all likelihood, you will receive a phone call or in-person visit from an insurance adjuster representing the at-fault driver’s insurance company. When you do, be very wary of what you do or say. While the adjuster may sound as if he or she is on your side, they are anything but that. Instead, they are trying to get you to admit the accident was your fault, or at the least convince you to settle quickly for a small amount of money. Because of this, when you are contacted by the adjuster, always refer them to your car accident attorney.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
In many car accident situations, a victim is told by their doctor to take it easy for several weeks, which often involves doing no heavy lifting or other physical tasks. However, as the days go by, a person may start to feel better, and thus decide they can indeed perform certain tasks. If this sounds like you, never follow through with this idea, and instead always follow your doctor’s advice. In all likelihood, the at-fault driver’s insurance company has you under surveillance, and all it will take to get your claim denied is one photo or video of you lifting a heavy box, mowing your yard, or other tasks that make it appear as if you are not seriously injured.
Mistakes on Claim Forms
When filling out claim forms, always make sure everything on them is accurate. Even the slightest mistake, such as the wrong date, address, or other information, can put your car accident claim in peril. Therefore, before submitting any claim forms, always look over them very carefully, and have you car accident attorney do the same. After all, you don’t want a simply typo on a form to be the reason you are denied the financial compensation you need and deserve.
Lying to your Attorney
No matter the circumstances of your accident, never lie to your attorney or the insurance company when discussing the details. If you do and are later caught in a lie, your case will likely be quickly tossed aside. Therefore, always tell the truth to everyone involved, since this will likely produce the best outcome for your claim.
Speak with an Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a reckless driver or due to someone else’s negligence, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.