Most people get into their car and don’t expect to be part of a wreck that day, but car accidents tend to take people by surprise and often happen at the worst times. Despite motor vehicles advancing society by a great leap, it means that we must also deal with a reality where awful vehicle collisions can, and do, occur. We are taught what to do when a car accident happens, but are there things that we aren’t told, but should be? Consider the insight below.
You Really Should See a Doctor
You may have heard this before, about how important it is to see a doctor after being in a car accident. Of course, this is a necessary step in ensuring that your health is okay, and if not, that you get care immediately. However, there is another reason to go to the doctor right away, by doing so it will begin a paper trail that officially records the injuries you sustained from the accident. Without medical documentation proof, it will be harder to show the severity and type of your injuries. Hopefully you had taken photos of your visual injuries as well while at the scene of the accident. But ultimately, medical documentation from a doctor will go a long way in getting you the compensation you need for injuries and other losses.
Insurance Companies Are Not Your Friend
Too many people put their complete trust into insurance companies after an accident, but don’t forget that they are still entities that want to make a profit. Their primary goal is not to support victims of accidents, in fact, they may go to great lengths to avoid paying a victim fairly based on their injuries, property damages, and other losses. After you notify your own insurance about the accident, you will be contacted by an insurance adjuster. Until you have spoken with your lawyer, like a car accident attorney victims depend on at Glotzer & Leib, LLP, do not provide a recorded statement or answer any of their questions. It is the job of an insurance adjuster to value your claim, and they may use your words against you to make it seem like you weren’t that injured. No matter how friendly they seem, insurance companies and insurance adjusters are not on your side.
Avoid Social Media Use Until Your Claim Is Closed
Do not make the mistake of going on social media right after the accident to discuss what happened. Your profile may be set to private, but it doesn’t really matter, because nothing on the web is private nowadays. We often use social media to update friends and family about what’s going on in our lives, and we may feel inclined to talk about the accident. As your lawyer would probably suggest, refrain from all social media use until your accident claim has been closed. You never know who is watching or who could somehow find access to your posts. If you are seen doing something that contradicts your injury claims, that can work against you and may result in a claim denial entirely. Watch out for your own best interests by keeping the auto accident to yourself until your lawyer has achieved a settlement amount for you, and your claim is closed.