Mistakes to Avoid After an East Los Angeles Car Accident
If you were involved in an unexpected vehicle accident, you should remember that there are certain things you should do to keep your life on track. Additionally, there are some specific mistakes to avoid after an East Los Angeles car accident, since making the wrong decisions could potentially impact your entitlement to financial compensation.
If you want to learn more about what not to do, our knowledgeable car wreck attorneys could explain all the details during your initial consultation. Working with our team boosts your chances of a positive case resolution.
Not Seeking Medical Treatment Could Affect a Car Accident Claim
To begin, being sure to call an ambulance and seek medical treatment after a wreck is crucial because, in many cases, severe injuries take a while to present themselves. For instance, someone involved in a crash might not feel a neck injury at first, but after a few days they might be in severe pain and in need of immediate attention. This might exacerbate the recovery period or the severity of the wound.
Meanwhile, delaying treatment can also impact the strength of a potential car accident claim for damages. The longer a plaintiff waits to seek attention after a wreck, the more skeptical an insurance company will be about their case. An agent might think that the claimant is not actually injured, and therefore, might hesitate to award them with an adequate settlement. In order to avoid these issues and potentially minimal monetary damages, anyone involved in a car accident should always be sure to reach out to emergency medical services at the scene of the crash.
Respecting a Doctor’s Orders
Additionally, when it comes to treatment and recovering, failing to respect a doctor’s orders for medicine, rest, or precautions could significantly impact the strength of a car accident claim. If an insurance agent realizes that an injured driver is not doing what their doctor requested, they will likely blame this claimant for their own pain and suffering. This limits the compensation that the person collects and undermines their integrity.
This might sound like a frustrating possibility, but a compassionate attorney in East Los Angeles could help a car accident plaintiff adhere to their doctors’ requests, maintain their legal standing, and receive the treatment they deserve.
Why is Admitting Fault or Giving a Recorded Statement a Mistake?
Meanwhile, it is imperative that a car wreck plaintiff does not admit any fault immediately following the incident. This is crucial because, generally speaking, opposing insurance companies will always be searching to blame anyone except the defendant for a crash. When investigating a car crash, if a plaintiff gives an insurance company any reason to believe that they partially or fully caused the accident themselves, the agent will likely use this information to lessen the strength of the civil claim.
Therefore, someone recovering from a car accident should not say anything; they are not required to and should always remember this. Instead, after a crash, the only things to do are exchange insurance information with other drivers, call the police or 911 if someone was hurt, collect any relevant evidence from the scene, and reach out to a legal representative.
Be Particularly Wary of Recorded Statements
Giving a recorded statement to an opposing insurance agent can be a particularly big mistake because these individuals know how to manipulate a case to their favor. For example, if a representative from a coverage company asks a plaintiff whether they have pain in certain areas of their body, like their neck, and they answer no, the rest of their case might suffer. If the claimant later starts to notice an injury and they try and factor this development into their lawsuit, the insurance agent might dispute the claim and fight to award a minimal settlement.
These tactics can be incredibly frustrating for a plaintiff who knows they did not contribute to a car accident, but a proactive East Los Angeles lawyer could help an injured driver avoid these impactful mistakes.
Speak with an Attorney about Mistakes to Avoid After an East Lost Angeles Car Accident
The period after a car accident can be stressful and frightening, leaving you feeling like you do not know what to do next. However, there are some key mistakes to avoid after an East Los Angeles car accident, and our legal team could explain them in detail. Do not wait to reach out to our office; contacting an attorney early on in your case process is one of the most important things you can do. We could help you catalog your injuries, communicate with insurance companies, and navigate complex legal procedures. Get started today.