Car accidents can be devastating to all those involved, especially the victims. The losses that victims of car accidents suffer are numerous. It takes a lot of time and money for the victims to get back to their normal lives. During this recovery period, the victim will be in deep stress, struggling to make ends meet while tending to their injuries.
It is important for victims of car accidents to fight back and get compensation for their losses. However, it isn’t very easy. There are numerous complexities involved. This is why victims should seek the assistance of a reputable law firm, like Allen Law Firm. They have the expertise and resources needed to get justice for the victims.
In addition to the lawyers, the victims have a huge role to play in acquiring fair compensation. The actions of the victim are crucial, as they can make or break their case. The following sections discuss what the victim must and mustn’t do when filing a car accident claim.
The Do’s
- DO hire a lawyer
A lawyer is essential for a car accident claim. No matter how you look at it, a lawyer’s services are priceless in car accident claims.
An experienced car accident lawyer can:
- Determine liability
- Fill out the paperwork
- Compile and take advantage of the evidence
- Communicate with insurance companies
- Assist in out-of-court negotiations
- Represent the victim in court
Hiring a lawyer removes a great deal of stress associated with a car accident claim. With their help, victims get a better chance of acquiring fair compensation for their losses.
- DO preserve evidence
Evidence is important in a car accident claim. Victims need to provide sufficient evidence to prove that they suffered losses due to the negligence of the at-fault party.
Preserving evidence, along with gathering it, is vital. Lost or misplaced evidence will hurt not just the compensation amount but also the chances of getting one.
- DO collect the police report
All car accidents need to be reported to the police. Some states even make it punishable to not report accidents. So to avoid legal repercussions, victims must reach out to the police as soon as possible.
One advantage of reporting is that the victim gets to collect the police report. This report, drafted by the officer who investigate the accident scene, contains all the details of the accident. This includes
- Date, place, and time of the accident
- Information about the parties involved
- Witness statements
- Weather and road conditions
- The officer’s observations
Insurance companies consider police reports to be an important and trustworthy piece of evidence. Victims should get their hands on a copy as soon as possible for the best results.
- DO take all damages into consideration
Victims often forget to take all their losses into consideration. Often, they’ll consider just the medical expenses and property damage. Some may even add lost wages. But very few think about the future impact of the car accident. There’s emotional distress, the effect of the injuries on work performance, and so many other factors to think about.
Victims should ensure all their damages are included before discussing compensation.
The Don’ts
- DON’T be active on social media
Victims must reduce their social media activity as much as possible. Regularly posting on social media impacts their claim. It gives insurance companies an excuse to lower their compensation. They use these posts to say that the victim has exaggerated their injuries and doesn’t deserve the requested compensation.
- DON’T rush to conclusions
Patience is an important thing to have in car accident claims. Trying to speed things up or expecting quick compensation is not just unfair but also impossible. There will be multiple back-and-forth investigations. The victim must offer their full cooperation, staying levelheaded and focusing on their recovery.
- DON’T engage with the insurance company
Insurance companies are wolves in sheep’s clothing. They may appear friendly, but their intent is to offer the lowest possible compensation. They’ll go to any extent to do so. One method is sweet talking the victims into accepting a low offer.
Whenever an insurance adjuster tries to engage, victims must direct them to their lawyers. Insurance adjusters know that their tricks are useless against lawyers and will act accordingly.
Final Thoughts
The compensation a car accident victim gets puts them on the road to recovery. It helps in paying the bills and all the difficulties the car accident has forced on them. With a lawyer, filing a car accident claim and getting fair compensation becomes a lot easier.